Kazakhstan aims to lift transit cargo to 100 million tonnes a year

Kazakhstan aims to raise its transit cargo volume to 100 million tonnes a year. According to plans discussed at Kazakhstan Transport Week in Astana, the capacity of its sea ports will be quadrupled and the capacity of its fleet increased fivefold by 2035.

Experts from about 40 countries took part in the forum, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Discussions covered railway, road, sea and air transport, digital solutions and training specialists for the sector. Kazakhstan's transport sector grew 7.2% in the first nine months of 2026. Transit volume rose 18% in 2025 to 39.1 million tonnes.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stressed the importance of increasing the sector's share of gross domestic product. The World Bank estimates that infrastructure investment, simpler trade procedures and shorter border delays could raise countries' GDP by about 15%. Two projects are under way in the Caspian region: a container hub at Aktau sea port and the Sarzha multifunctional terminal at Kuryk port. Five transshipment hubs are planned for 2026 to 2027.