Kazakhstan and China rail freight traffic reached 18.7 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, up 9% year-on-year. The increase was driven by stronger exports, expanding border infrastructure and growing demand along key Eurasian trade corridors according to Kazakhstan`s Ministry of Transport.
Export And Import Freight Volumes Increased Over Past Year
Kazakhstan`s State owned railway company Temir Zholy (KTZ) revealed that freight volumes increased in both directions. Accordingly, Kazakhstan has imported 7 million tonnes of goods from China since January 2026, a 9% year-on-year increase. Inversely, shipments to China rose 10% to 11.7 million tonnes over the same period. Exports accounted for 8.5 million tonnes of those shipments, up 20% from the first half of 2025. The main export cargo included iron ore, animal feed, ferrous/non-ferrous metals, grain, crude oil, petroleum products and other commodities.
The Dostyk border crossing handled the largest freight share, processing 10.6 million tonnes – 15% more than a year earlier. Export shipments through the station also rose 15% to 5.4 million tonnes. The Altynkol border crossing also recorded growth, handling 8.1 million tonnes of cargo in 2026, up 2% year-on-year. Export traffic through the station increased even faster, surging 29% to 3.1 million tonnes.
Kazakhstan And China To Promote Trade And Economic Cooperation
In associated news, Kazakhstan and China reaffirmed the countries’ “eternal comprehensive strategic partnership” during recent talks in Shanghai. Both parties signed a new roadmap for trade and economic cooperation for 2027-2030. Moreover, they pledged to deepen collaboration in trade, investment, artificial intelligence and regional security.
China is Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching a record USD 49 billion last year while Chinese investment in Kazakhstan exceeded USD 30 billion. Over 8,500 Chinese-funded enterprises now operate in Kazakhstan, with joint projects spanning industry, energy, gas processing, machinery manufacturing and agriculture. The meeting also highlighted expanding cultural and educational cooperation in response to one million Chinese citizens visited Kazakhstan last year.
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