The rail border crossings between Kazakhstan and China have been under scrutiny throughout the year, especially with the recent developments at the Dostyk border crossing according to RailFreight. Earlier this year, Kazakhstan halted grain exports to China via rail due to capacity limitations. Currently, the situation has escalated, with a complete ban on container trains heading to China from Kazakhstan, extended twice and now in place until at least November.
Kazakh authorities cite infrastructure constraints as the reason for the ban. The Dostyk crossing is reportedly overwhelmed, with approximately 55 container trains queuing at the border as of late September. This backlog has raised questions about the ability of Kazakhstan's border facilities to manage the increased flow of containers.
Despite the blockade of container trains heading to China, other border crossings remain operational, allowing for continued traffic entering Kazakhstan from China. However, conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the broader implications of the current situation.
A recent statement from Russian logistics firm Asia Import Group adds another layer of complexity.
The company reported that “delivery by rail from China to Russia through Kazakhstan is practically impossible.”
They attribute significant delays to the congestion at the Dostyk crossing, noting that freight often waits at the station for a month or longer due to the overwhelming volume of goods and a lack of available railway platforms. The company contrasts this with efforts in Russia’s Far East, where alternative transport methods are being employed to address similar issues.
In contrast, Chinese logistics company Tiedada asserts that the situation at the Dostyk border crossing is typical. They explain that a combination of high volumes of grain, minerals, and timber entering China, along with regular imports from Russia, leads to periodic congestion at the border. Tiedada views this as a seasonal pattern rather than an extraordinary event, predicting that the situation will improve in the near future.
Additionally, Tiedada highlights that traffic along the China-Europe route remains unaffected by the congestion at Dostyk. They attribute a recent decline in export volumes to Europe primarily to falling sea freight rates rather than delays at the border.
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