On 25 December, experts gathered in Beijing to assess the performance and future potential of the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway. The meeting reviewed the operational results of the corridor up to 2024 and explored opportunities for further development.

Kazakhstan was represented by KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company. According to KTZ Express, in the first 11 months of 2024, the volume of freight transported on the corridor increased by 31% compared to the same period in 2023. This growth underlines the growing interest of market players in the corridor and highlights Kazakhstan’s critical role as a transit hub in the global supply chain.

Participants have focused on the following areas to improve the efficiency of the corridor:

• Increasing cargo delivery speeds to further reduce transit times.
• Optimising customs procedures to streamline cross-border operations.
• Implementing advanced digital solutions to simplify logistics processes and improve transparency.

The China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway corridor is a vital link in Eurasian trade, facilitating the rapid movement of goods from China’s east coast to the Persian Gulf and Middle East markets. This corridor has already achieved significant milestones, reducing delivery times between China and Iran to just 15 days.

With its growing freight volumes and strategic location, the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway is poised to become an even more important player in Eurasian trade. Continued efforts to optimise its operations and infrastructure will further solidify its role in connecting key global markets.

Source: The Times of Asia / KTZ