More cargo is crossing Kazakhstan in transit. At the government meeting on 13 October, Deputy Transport Minister Maxat Kaliakparov said transit volumes in January–September were 13.1% higher than a year earlier.
Overall traffic: rail steady, road faster
Over nine months the railways carried 241.7 million tonnes of freight (+3%) and road transport 270.4 million tonnes (+5.6%). Kazakh airlines flew 12.4 million passengers (+4.2%). The ministry also listed new road projects, among them Aktobe–Kyzylorda, Beineu–Sekseuil, a Saryagash bypass, the Centre–West corridor and Karaganda–Zhezkazgan.
Customs: more declarations, more trucks at the border
The finance ministry offered a customs view. About 1.2 million transit declarations were processed in nine months, 18% more than a year earlier, covering 19.4 million tonnes of goods (+13%). Some 1.5 million vehicles passed through road checkpoints, up 19.3%. The ministry said it would keep upgrading border infrastructure and simplifying clearance.
The two sets of figures should not be mixed: the first is transport-sector statistics, the second counts only goods moving under the customs transit procedure, and officials have not explained how they relate.
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What the prime minister asked for
Olzhas Bektenov told the transport and finance ministries and other agencies to finish infrastructure projects on schedule, grow freight and transit volumes, cut border crossing times, remove administrative barriers and introduce unified digital shipping documents, a continuation of the digital transport passport we covered earlier.
Practical takeaways for Chinese companies
Vehicle traffic at road checkpoints is growing by almost a fifth a year, so queues build quickly around holidays; shipments to Kazakhstan and Central Asia need buffer time. Digital documents are becoming the norm, so check that carriers and customs brokers are connected to Kazakh systems. Rail volumes are growing more slowly than transit, which means train slots can tighten in peak season and are best booked early. All figures are the government's preliminary data.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked against sources by the editors; the cover is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph.
Sources:
- Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, official site (transport ministry report): https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/tranzitnye-perevozki-cherez-kazahstan-vyrosli-na-131-31994
- Sputnik Kazakhstan: https://ru.sputnik.kz/20261013/tranzit-cherez-kazakhstan-vyros-na-131-s-nachala-2026-goda-67553097.html
- 365info.kz: https://365info.kz/2026/10/tranzit-gruzov-cherez-kazahstan-vyros-na-13-1
- Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, official site (finance ministry report): https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/dohody-gosudarstvennogo-byudzheta-za-9-mesyacev-2026-goda-vyrosli-na-163-prevysiv-20-trln-tenge-31990
- Kazinform: https://www.inform.kz/ru/kazahstan-podvel-ekonomicheskie-itogi-zadevyat-mesyatsev-f70585aa
Key facts
- According to the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, transit freight volume in the first nine months increased 13.1% year on year.
- Kazakhstan’s rail freight volume in the first nine months reached 241.7 million tonnes, up by 3% year on year.
- Kazakhstan’s road freight volume in the first nine months reached 270.4 million tonnes, up by 5.6% year on year.
- According to the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan, customs authorities processed approximately 1.2 million transit declarations in the same period, up by 18% year on year.
- A total of 1.5 million vehicles passed through Kazakhstan’s road border crossings in the same period, up by 19.3% year on year.
- The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan has called for shortening cargo transit times and introducing unified electronic accompanying documents.
FAQ
How much did transit freight volume in Kazakhstan grow in the first nine months?
According to the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, transit freight volume in the first nine months increased 13.1% year on year. Rail freight volume rose by 3%, while road freight volume grew by 5.6%.
How have customs transit declarations and traffic at border crossings changed?
During the first nine months, customs authorities processed approximately 1.2 million transit declarations, an 18% year-on-year increase; declared cargo reached 19.4 million tonnes, up by 13%. A total of 1.5 million vehicles passed through road border crossings, an increase of 19.3%.
Can transit data from the transport ministry and customs be added together or converted?
No. The two sets of data use different statistical methodologies, and the authorities have not provided a correspondence between transit freight volume reported by the transport ministry and cargo covered by customs transit declarations.
What further measures is the Kazakhstan government requiring?
The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan has instructed the relevant authorities to expand freight and transit volumes, shorten cargo transit times, remove administrative barriers, and introduce unified electronic accompanying documents. The Ministry of Finance said it will continue to improve border infrastructure and streamline customs procedures.
What transportation arrangements should Chinese cargo owners and freight forwarders monitor?
Traffic at road border crossings is growing by nearly 20%. Cargo owners and freight forwarders should allow additional time around public holidays and confirm whether carriers and customs brokers have access to Kazakhstan’s systems. Space on scheduled freight trains should be booked early during the peak season.