Cargo transportation by railway between Kazakhstan and China increases 13% in 2024

ALMATY. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The volume of freight transported via railway between Kazakhstan and China rose 13% year-on-year to over 32 million tonnes in 2024 from 28.3 million tonnes in 2023, the committee for railway and water transport of Kazakhstan's Transport Ministry said.

Freight transported between the countries reached an all-time high in 2024, the committee said.

Exports from Kazakhstan to China increased by 1 million tonnes, or 7.9%, to 13.7 million tonnes. Iron and non-ferrous ores, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, grain, and other goods were the primary cargo exported, the Transport Ministry said.

Imported Chinese goods grew 5%, and transit shipments via Kazakhstan rose 19% to 15.3 million tonnes. Container transit to Europe surged 43%.

The ministry said that opening Kazakhstan's terminal at the Xi'an International Dry Port was an important growth factor. "Over 300 container trains passed through the terminal and the port of Aktau in 2024, a surge of 30-fold year-on-year," the ministry said.

Kazakhstan and China had earlier agreed on the volume of cargo transportation at 27.8 million tonnes in 2024.