Kazakhstan and China are exchanging more and more goods via rail. In the first half of this year, the neighbouring countries noted a 9% increase in the total volume of rail freight. Interestingly, Kazakhstan exported more to China via rail than the other way around.
In total, 18.7 million tonnes of freight made its way across the Kazakh-Chinese rail border crossings in the first six months of 2026. Stronger Kazakh exports, improved border infrastructure and growing demand on the Eurasian trade corridors have driven the 9% growth, according to Kazakhstan’s transport ministry.
Kazakhstan imported seven million tonnes of goods via rail (+9%). China, for its part, received 11.7 million tonnes of rail freight (+10%). Out of those 11.7 million tonnes, 8.5 million tonnes are Kazakh exports. This translates into a 20% export increase compared to H1 2025. Among the exported products were iron ore, animal feed, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, grain, crude oil and petroleum products.
Dostyk and Altynkol
The Kazakh transport ministry notes that border crossing and rail infrastructure improvements have contributed to the freight volume growth. In particular, the Dostyk/Alashankou crossing recorded a growth figure of 15%. The total volume of freight amounted to 10.6 million tonnes.
Kazakhstan has observed a similar trend at the Khorgos/Altynkol border crossing. 8.1 million tonnes of freight crossed the border at this location in H1 (+2% year-on-year). Khorgos takes the crown when it comes to growth in Kazakh exports: +29%, for a total of 3.1 million tonnes. At Dostyk, Kazakhstan exported 5.4 million tonnes of freight via rail.