BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23.
Container transit through Kazakhstan is expected to grow by around
6%-10% annually, the Organization for Cooperation between Railways
(OSJD) told Trend.


“Regarding the forecast for the growth of rail
container transportation, the most realistic scenario appears to be
one in which total container transit through Kazakhstan grows at a
moderate rate of around 6%-10% per year, while individual
Trans-Caspian container services could demonstrate double-digit
growth of about 15%-25% annually,” the organization said.


According to OSJD, container transportation volumes
along the multimodal Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
(TITR) have reached 77,000 TEU over the past six years.


Transit transportation has been the main driver of
growth, increasing sixfold from 7,400 to 42,000 TEU and currently
accounting for 55% of the total volume.


In January-June 2026, transit along the route
increased by 30% compared with the same period last year, reaching
26,600 TEU. The TITR currently offers a competitive average
delivery time of 15-18 days.


OSJD said the expansion of Kazakhstan’s railway
infrastructure capacity is an important factor supporting cargo
transportation growth.


“In late December 2025, the Dostyk-Moyynty railway
section, with a length of 869.7 km, was commissioned for permanent
operation. The project increased the capacity of this route
fivefold. Construction of the new Moyynty-Kyzylzhar line is
underway, while capacity expansion is being carried out on the
Kyzylzhar-Sekseul-Beyneu sections. Construction is also continuing
on the 297-km Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line leading to a future third
border crossing with China,” OSJD said.


The organization noted that international container
transportation through Kazakhstan has significant potential for
further growth.


“Based on data from the railways of OSJD member
countries, the dynamics of international container transportation
through Kazakhstan are generally assessed as positive and having
significant potential for further growth. As we understand and see
it, the Kazakh side considers cooperation with the railways of OSJD
member countries a priority area of its foreign transport policy
and is actively involved in developing several international
container routes,” OSJD said.


These routes include China-Europe-China through the
Dostyk and Altynkol border crossings; China-Türkiye via the Caspian
Sea along the TITR; China-Central Asia, including Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan and Iran; and Russia-Iran along the eastern route of
the North-South International Transport Corridor.







OSJD added that more than 1.4 million TEU transited
Kazakhstan in the first six months of 2026, up 10% compared with
the same period of 2025.


The organization also noted that the Uniform Transit
Tariff (UTT)allows for preferential rates and discounts for
customers.


“The UTT Agreement does not exclude the possibility
for the Parties to the UTT Agreement to provide benefits and
discounts to customers for transportation on their railways in
order to ensure the competitiveness of transportation,” OSJD
said.


Under the current provisions of the Agreement on
International Railway Freight Traffic (SMGS), freight charges for
cargo transportation through transit railways are calculated
according to the transit tariffs applied by the respective
railways. One such tariff currently in use is the UTT. The UTT is
an integral part of the UTT Agreement, which has 18 parties.


“Since multimodal transportation combines several
modes of transport, for example, sea + rail + road, the through
tariff is formed individually by the freight forwarder or logistics
operator. The calculation based on UTT rates is included by the
operator only for the railway leg of the route. The cost of vessel
freight, port charges and road transportation is calculated
according to the rules applicable to other modes of transport,”
OSJD said.


According to the organization, meetings involving
representatives of the UTT Agreement parties and interested OSJD
affiliated enterprises are held annually to address issues related
to the application, amendment and supplementation of the UTT.


“The parties to the UTT Agreement are working to
update the Agreement and improve the UTT in connection with
emerging new types of transportation and additional services,
update existing tariff rates due to changes in transportation
costs, and bring the tariff into line with the regulatory framework
governing international transportation,” OSJD said.


The UTT Agreement is an international agreement
between railway administrations signed on June 27, 1991, in Warsaw
within the framework of OSJD and entering into force on July 1 of
the same year. Its current participants include railway transport
enterprises and companies from several Eurasian countries,
including Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.