Will Kazakhstan Benefit from the New Transit Route Between Russia and China?

Kazakhstan is considering the creation of a major multimodal logistics center in the Zaisan district of the East Kazakhstan Region. The initiative is currently being discussed at the interstate level with partners from Russia and China, according to the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A key element of the project is the planned construction of a river port in the village of Tughyl. At the initial stage, cargo will be delivered to the port by road transport, after which it will be shipped by river towards Russia. According to preliminary estimates, the volume of cargo transportation will start at around 2 million tons per year, with the potential to increase up to 10 million tons.

The next phase of development involves cooperation with China. The Kazakh side is negotiating the establishment of a fourth railway border crossing with the PRC. The new section is expected to connect the Tughyl port with the railway network, opening a multimodal corridor “China – Kazakhstan – Russia” with an outlet to the Ob River and further to the Northern Sea Route.

Thus, the Zaisan district may become a new strategic link in the Eurasian logistics system, significantly expanding Kazakhstan’s transit potential. For the agricultural sector, this opens additional opportunities for exporting products and reducing transportation costs.

At the same time, it is important to consider that the logistics corridor may bring the greatest benefit to Russian exporters, who will gain convenient access to the Chinese market. For Kazakhstan, a key factor for the project's success will be the integration of its own producers and exporters into the logistics chain — otherwise, the country risks remaining merely a transit territory rather than a full-fledged participant.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
🔹 A multimodal logistics hub with a river port is planned in the Zaisan district of East Kazakhstan.
🔹 The “China – Kazakhstan – Russia” corridor will connect to the Northern Sea Route and could become a strategic transit channel.
🔹 The project could significantly impact regional trade flows and shift the balance of export routes across Central Asia.