KTZ on Current Discounts for Export Grain Transportation

Reduced tariff conditions continue to apply on a number of routes for the export transportation of Kazakh grain. Information on the current discounts was presented during off-site meetings of the KTZ Grain Headquarters held in Kostanay and Kokshetau.

For grain transportation through Uzbekistan, a discount ranging from 30% to 50%, depending on transportation volumes, is available on the Keles – Galaba section. A 60% discount applies on the Keles – Khodzhadavlet route, while a 40% discount is available on the Karakalpakstan – Galaba section. For transportation through Turkmenistan, tariff reductions ranging from 30% to 50% are provided depending on the selected route.

A 40% discount applies on the Kigash – Samur route through Russia. For transportation involving the Kaliningrad Railway, the tariff is reduced by 20%.

KTZ also presented data on grain transportation. In January–August 2026, 9.3 million tonnes of grain were transported across the company's railway network, 13% more than in the same period last year. Export transportation increased by 14% to 7.2 million tonnes, while domestic transportation rose by 8% to 2.1 million tonnes.

A record monthly transportation volume of 1.2 million tonnes of grain was recorded in August. This was 35% higher than in August 2025.

Akmola Region leads in terms of loading volumes for the new grain harvest. Since the beginning of August, around 520 thousand tonnes of grain have been loaded in the region, accounting for 31% of the total loading volume across Kazakhstan during this period, which amounted to 1.7 million tonnes.

A total of 409 thousand tonnes of grain from Akmola Region were shipped to foreign markets, while another 111 thousand tonnes were transported domestically. Thus, around 79% of the region's total grain shipments are destined for export markets. Since the beginning of the grain season, around 80 block trains have been dispatched from the region.

Kostanay Region also remains one of Kazakhstan's largest grain-producing regions. More than 1.8 million tonnes of grain were loaded there during the first eight months of the year. Of this volume, more than 1.4 million tonnes were shipped for export, while 405.5 thousand tonnes were transported domestically.

Uzbekistan remains the largest export destination for grain from Kostanay Region. Over the eight-month period, 606.4 thousand tonnes were shipped there, accounting for 43% of the region's total grain exports. A total of 169.6 thousand tonnes were transported to Russia, 135.6 thousand tonnes to Afghanistan, 133.5 thousand tonnes to Tajikistan, and 84.1 thousand tonnes to China.

In addition, grain from Kostanay Region was supplied to Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia and Turkmenistan.

Around 16 thousand grain wagons, more than 17.8 thousand covered wagons and 1,710 locomotives are being used across the KTZ network to support transportation. Since the beginning of the year, the company's fleet has been expanded by 169 locomotives.

Repair work continues on certain sections of the railway network in September. At the same time, capacity on most routes remains at the previous level or is increasing.