Employees load vehicles imported from China onto a truck at a logistics center in Zharkent, Kazakhstan, on May 22. LI RENZI/XINHUA
Kazakhstan is ramping up efforts to develop the "Middle Corridor" as a vital logistics artery connecting China and Europe, with plans to invest $10 billion to expand its railway and infrastructure capacity to meet surging cross-border freight demand.
Talgat Aldybergenov, former chairman of Kazakhstan's national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), said the volume of Chinese goods transported to Europe via Kazakhstan has seen a notable increase following recent global shipping disruptions.
"Compared to sea freight, land transport offers higher reliability and more predictable delivery times, and Chinese customers' interest in land transport is growing day by day," Aldybergenov said.
Amid shifting global supply chains and regional complexities, the Middle Corridor has emerged as a preferred alternative for international traders. Spanning over 4,250 kilometers, the route links China and Europe through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye. Data from UK-based Abrdn Group show that freight volume along this corridor has surged nearly tenfold since 2022.
