Kazakhstan Sets Record for Grain Transport by Rail Over the Past Five Years

In the first quarter of 2025, Kazakhstan's railway transport system demonstrated unprecedented volumes of grain shipments. According to the press service of JSC "NC "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy", 3.6 million tons of grain were transported between January and March — 49% more than during the same period last year, marking the highest figure in the past five years.

Sharp Growth in Exports and Domestic Shipments
The majority of the volume — 2.8 million tons — was exported, reflecting a 52% increase. Domestic shipments also showed positive dynamics, totaling 788 thousand tons, which is 38% higher than last year's level.
The most significant increases were seen in shipments to neighboring and distant foreign markets. Over the three-month period, grain shipments to Iran increased elevenfold, while shipments to the Baltic countries grew fivefold.

China
A notable trend was the expansion of processed grain product exports to China. In particular, exports of compound feed reached 500 thousand tons — 5.5 times more than in the first quarter of 2024. This figure confirms sustained interest from the Chinese market in products with higher added value.

March: A New Monthly Record
March 2025 also set a record: 1.2 million tons of grain were loaded across the KTZ network — 63% more than in March of the previous year. Domestic shipments amounted to 290 thousand tons (+43%), while exports reached 914 thousand tons (+70%).
Central Asia and Ports: Rapid Geographic Expansion
Significant export growth was observed across all key directions. A total of 463 thousand tons of grain was shipped to Central Asian countries — a 48% increase from the previous year. By country, growth rates were as follows:
• Uzbekistan: +28%
• Tajikistan: +80%
• Turkmenistan: +18%
• Kyrgyzstan: sixfold increase
• Afghanistan: +23%

Volumes shipped through seaports were especially notable. Shipments to Iran via the Aktau and Kuryk ports increased eighteenfold. Exports through Black Sea ports grew by 35%, through Baltic Sea ports by 26%, and to the Baltic countries by tenfold.

State Support: Wheat Export Subsidies
It is worth noting that since the beginning of the year, Kazakhstan has introduced a subsidy mechanism for transportation costs related to wheat exports along selected routes. This support measure is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Kazakh grain in international markets and will remain in effect until September 1, 2025.

The record-breaking export pace and expanding geography of deliveries highlight the high potential of Kazakhstan's grain sector and the effectiveness of its logistics strategy. The growing share of processed products, particularly compound feed, opens up new opportunities for increasing the added value of national agro-exports.