Category: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan considering the privatisation of Kazakh Railways

Kazakhstan is considering the privatisation of Kazakh Railways (KTZ). The company is not doing well financially, which has led the transport ministry to discuss alternative structures. Moreover, infrastructure management will likely be removed from KTZ’s portfolio. Marat Karabayev, Kazakhstan’s transport minister, stated that officials are discussing a privatisation of KTZ. The Kazakh rail operator and…

Nurminen Logistics and Kazakhstan eye joint Middle Corridor investments

What started as a regular service cooperation in late 2022 is now ready to upgrade into a full partnership aimed at rail investments. Nurminen Logistics and the Government of Kazakhstan, represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Murat Nurtleu, are discussing the possibilities of improving the Middle Corridor. Their negotiations entail the possibility of launching joint investment…

Kazakh minister beats back: tariff hikes justified

Kazakhstan is in the wake of a series of tariff hikes on the Kazakh rail network. Businesses and parliamentarians have protested the frequent price increases, and the government cancelled an earlier planned hike. Now, the Kazakh transport minister is beating back: the Kazakh network is cheap and the hikes are justified. “We need to point…

Kazakh Xi’an terminal boosts Middle Corridor traffic by 70%

The Kazakh rail terminal in Xi’an, China, has boosted freight traffic on the Middle Corridor by 70 per cent. The terminal opened for operations in February 2024 and has since then significantly affected freight volumes heading west. According to the organisation Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the Kazakh rail terminal in Chinese Xi’an has significantly boosted…

Fuel, electricity and labour costs behind new KTZ cargo fee hikes

Higher fuel, electricity and labour costs are forcing Kazakh Railways’ cargo division (KTZ-GP) to increase its prices. Indebted Kazakh Railways (KTZ) is increasing its prices all across the board, to the dismay of the business community. KTZ is deeply in debt and needs higher income to cover its budget gaps. Even with a fourfold revenue…

Tajikistan looking for 7,5 billion dollars in funding for rail

Tajikistan seems to be hopping onto the bandwagon for rail infrastructure in Central Asia. The country is looking for 7,5 billion dollars (7 billion euros) in investments for its rail network. The Tajik rail infrastructure is underdeveloped yet crucial for the country’s international trade. At an economic forum in the Russian city of Kazan, the…

Middle Corridor countries discussing 50% tariff discount

The Middle Corridor is too expensive as a competitive alternative to other transport corridors that connect Europe and China. In an effort to boost the route’s attractiveness, involved countries are now discussing a fifty per cent discount on tariffs along the route. Five countries that are part of the Middle Corridor are currently taking part…