Kazakhstan Rail Transit Via Russia & The INSTC Increases By 63% In Q1 2025

Kazakhstan has significantly increased the volume of grain and coal transported via rail through Russia, particularly along the eastern route of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway operator, container traffic along this corridor rose by 63% in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).

The International North-South Transport Corridor links Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, with an annual cargo capacity of 10 million tons. Its eastern route, which passes through Kazakhstan, is emerging as a vital artery for regional trade.

Between September 2024 and April 2025, Kazakhstan exported over 650,000 tons of grain through Russian and Baltic Sea ports. Meanwhile, containerized freight between China and Russia via Kazakhstan increased by 30% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2025, exceeding 132,000 TEU.

Coal transit volumes saw a particularly dramatic rise. From January to March 2025, Kazakhstan exported 2.3 million tons of coal through Russian territory, an increase of 44.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Of this total, 1.3 million tons were shipped through Baltic Sea ports, while another 900,000 tons were exported via Azov and Black Sea ports, a fivefold increase over last year.

On 28 April, representatives of KTZ and Russian Railways met in Almaty at the XV meeting of the joint working group and confirmed their desire to expand cooperation. The parties agreed to increase the volume of Kazakh coal deliveries to Russian ports and approved a strategic co-operation plan for 2025-2027.

In November 2024, KTZ and Russian Railways signed a landmark agreement to modernize railway infrastructure at nine key border stations. The deal includes plans to increase capacity and implement a unified digital system to streamline transportation and cross-border logistics.