Transit of Chinese goods to Europe via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) increased more than twofold in 5M24. The volume of maritime shipments via TITR rose by 15%, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport reports. The transit of container cargo from China to Europe increased by 3.4 times during this period.
The Ministry of Transport announced an increase in motor freight transportation via the port of Kuryk and container shipments via the Aktau Port. Plans are in place to deepen the port of Kuryk to accommodate larger ships, with work expected to start in mid-summer.
Between January and March, the volume of shipments via the TITR grew by 33%, due to the launch of the Digital Trade Corridor, including Track&Trace and TezCustoms services. These services provide shipment tracking, customs status updates, and online transportation document updates. Shippers and freight forwarders can complete transit declarations through TezCustoms in under 30 minutes.
In early May, the technical integration of Track&Trace in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was completed, while integration efforts continued in Georgia. Kazakhstan is negotiating with Chinese and European partners to enhance this service.
In mid-May, Vice Minister Serik Zhumangarin described the Middle Corridor as the optimal land route between Asia and Europe. He noted its potential to reduce transit times for Vietnamese products to Europe by 3 to 4 times compared to sea routes, with lower costs.
In 2023, over 2.7 mn tons were transported via the TITR, an 86% increase from 2022. Authorities project that approximately 4 mn tons will be shipped through the route in 2024. In late March, Aibek Kapar, Deputy CEO of KTZ Express for logistics, announced that the TITR is considering the implementation of five-year tariffs, replacing the current one-year tariffs.
In October 2023, Kazakhstan outlined its plan to increase transit from 23.2 mn tons in 2022 to 35 mn tons by 2030, a 1.5 times increase over seven years. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev directed the cabinet to expand trade with China by 2.5 times, aiming for a turnover of $100 bn, although no specific deadline has been set. Last year, trade between Kazakhstan and China grew by 30%, reaching $31.5 bn.
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