The rail backbone of Eurasia. Kazakhstan strengthens its position on the logistics map

Central Asia is now one of the most promising regions on the global business map, experiencing robust economic growth and attracting a rising number of foreign investors, including from the European Union, China, and the United States. This growing interest spans many industries and reflects the strategic importance of the region. These countries are also actively engaged in the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, which has become one of the key foundations of Central Asia’s momentum. It is crucial for facilitating the flow of goods in local markets and positioning the region to play an increasingly important role in international trade.

At the heart of this transformation lies Kazakhstan – the regional leader and a country that once served mainly as a transit corridor, now evolving into a modern logistics hub and emerging market in its own right. Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 4.8% in 2024 and accelerated to 5.6% year-on-year in Q1 2025 – the fastest pace since 2013, according to the Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This growth was driven by a 7.7% rise in goods production, including manufacturing (+8.7%), mining (+6.1%), and construction (+16.9%), while the services sector expanded by 4.5%, supported by strong transport, trade, and storage activity.

Infrastructure boom: roads, airports, and railways

Kazakhstan is experiencing an investment boom in transport infrastructure, with numerous new roads under construction across the country. Air infrastructure is also advancing – including a new airport in Khorgos (near the Chinese border) and the largest modernization project in the history of Almaty International Airport. According to the development plan, the terminal is set to undergo a multi-phase transformation into a major Eurasian aviation hub by 2050, with significant upgrades to terminals, runways, cargo facilities, and logistics zones. This momentum is equally strong in the rail sector, supported by large-scale investments in new lines, intermodal and transshipment terminals as part of Kazakhstan’s broader infrastructure strategy. 

Why rail infrastructure development is so crucial for Kazakhstan?  

Terminals in Almaty and Aktau are designed to facilitate the efficient movement of heavy goods – from industrial equipment to construction materials – which is particularly important given the dynamic growth of the construction sector in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia. In 2024 alone, the total housing stock in Kazakhstan – the region’s most developed market – grew by 3.6%, reaching 434.3 million m², alongside significant expansion in office and commercial real estate. This generates heavy and voluminous cargo flows that rely on rail and intermodal solutions, with rail serving as the main long-haul mode due to its capacity and cost-efficiency.

At the same time, rail freight plays a crucial role in Kazakhstan’s international trade. In 2024, volumes between Kazakhstan and China reached a record 32 million tons, a 13% year-on-year increase. Exports rose to 13.7 million tons, led by iron and non ferrous ore, ferrous and non ferrous metals, and grain, while imports grew by 5%. Transit shipments surged by 19% to 15.3 million tons, with container transit to Europe jumping by 43%.

A major catalyst for this growth was the opening of Kazakhstan’s logistics terminal in the dry port of Xi’an, China. Although located in China’s Shaanxi Province, this facility is a joint Kazakhstan–China project, strategically positioned to streamline the shipment of goods via the Trans Caspian International Transport Route. In 2024, more than 300 container trains passed through this terminal and the port of Aktau—thirty times more than in 2023. At Rohlig SUUS Logistics, we have also observed this trend first-hand, supporting our customers in the region with tailored logistics operations that connect the domestic construction-driven demand with rapidly growing Eurasian trade corridors.

Kazakhstan’s strategic location also makes it a two-way logistics corridor – not only for Chinese exports to Central Asia and Europe, but also for goods flowing in the opposite direction. European producers and distributors, including many from the construction, electronics, and consumer goods sectors, are increasingly targeting the Central Asian market. For them, rail is not just a means of delivery to Kazakhstan – which functions as a regional distribution hub – but also a gateway to reach neighboring countries like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Lastly, recent geopolitical disruptions have further proven the value of rail. The Red Sea crisis in late 2023 forced many companies to shift volumes away from maritime transport. As a result, significant volumes were re-routed via Kazakhstan, and many entities decided to permanently incorporate rail into their supply chain mix. Kazakhstan is also a vital part of the Middle Corridor, an intermodal trade route connecting China with Central and Southern Europe via rail, road, and sea. While interest in this corridor has grown significantly in recent years, it remains a route full of challenges. It requires multiple modes of transport, numerous transshipments, and faces limitations from still-developing infrastructure, as well as weather-related disruptions such as strong winds or heavy snowfall in winter.

SUUS at the center of transformation

As Rohlig SUUS Logistics, we have noticed potential of Kazakhstan some time ago. Wanting to be One Step Ahead in this market, we began operations in the country in 2023, opening a branch in Almaty. We provide a full range of services – from road and rail to air, intermodal, warehousing projects, and distribution. We serve both the local market and neighboring countries. Strategically located between China and Europe – and at the heart of Central Asia – Kazakhstan is positioning itself as both a key transit corridor and a regional distribution hub, supporting east–west trade flows and the development of domestic and neighboring markets alike. We operate locally, but with a strategic perspective. We closely observe how quickly logistics is transforming across Central Asia – and we are an active part of that change. From our perspective, the ongoing development of rail and intermodal infrastructure is crucial, as it directly enhances the efficiency and reliability of our operations, allowing us to handle growing cargo volumes and provide faster, more flexible solutions for our customers.