Chinese Cargo Transit Through Kazakhstan Hits 12-Year High

A record volume of Chinese cargo passed through Kazakhstan in 2024 — more than in any other year since 2013, Orda.kz reports.

According to the First Credit Bureau, 15.4 million tons of Chinese goods transited the country, marking a 22% increase compared to 2023.

While the figure is high, it also signals a slowing growth rate: transit volumes rose by 37% in 2022 and 33% in 2023. Nonetheless, the broader trend remains upward — over the past 12 years, a decline was recorded only twice, in 2015 and 2016.

Specific data on the cargo is limited, but the largest commodity categories were land transport (3.1 million tons) and electrical equipment (1.2 million tons), suggesting that much of the flow likely includes vehicles, parts, appliances, and assembly components.

Uzbekistan and the European Union have significantly ramped up their imports of Chinese goods via Kazakhstan by 60% and 134%, respectively. Russia, on the other hand, saw a decline of 14.7%, with just 3.6 million tons recorded.

Rail remains the dominant mode of transport. In 2024, it accounted for 62% of all transit shipments — 13.3 million tons out of 21.3 million tons.

Kazakhstan continues to serve as a vital overland route linking East and West. Despite uneven performance across markets, the corridor's importance is growing.

In late May, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev met with CITIC Group Chair Xi Guohua to discuss Chinese participation in major infrastructure projects, including road construction and repairs.

Both countries also agreed to increase truck throughput at the Khorgos border crossing.

Original Author: Alina Pak