ALMATY – Freight volumes on Kazakhstan’s rail network continued to grow in the first half of 2026, underscoring the country’s expanding role in regional trade. But as cargo flows accelerate, the focus is shifting from record volumes to whether rail infrastructure can keep pace with demand.
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) transported 157.1 million tons of cargo between January and June, a 3.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Domestic freight reached 82.2 million tons, while export shipments rose by 2.9 million tons to 45.6 million tons, reflecting stronger external demand for Kazakh commodities and agricultural products.
The latest figures build on the company’s record performance in 2025, when KTZ transported 319.8 million tons of cargo, up 5.5% year-on-year, driven by growth in exports, transit and imports. Laura Vecvagare. Photo credit: International Financial Corporation. Much of the increase continues to come from export-oriented industries.
Coal remained the largest cargo category during the first half of the year, with 51.3 million tons transported, including 15.9 million tons exported. Agricultural shipments also continued to expand. Rail transport of grain increased 10% to 7.3 million tons, while grain exports climbed 11% to 5.6 million tons.
Even faster growth was recorded in higher-value agricultural products. Exports of processed grain products reached 1.1 million tons, up 20%, while feed shipments surged 51% to 2 million tons, reflecting Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to move beyond raw commodity exports.
Freight volumes also increased across other major industrial sectors, including oil products (13.3 million tons, +3.7%), iron ore (11.6 million tons, +15.1%), ferrous metals (8.1 million tons, +8.8%), non-ferrous ores and construction materials. The figures suggest Kazakhstan’s rail network is carrying a diversified export basket while supporting domestic industrial activity.
Capacity expansion moves beyond new railways To accommodate rising freight flows, KTZ has focused on expanding capacity through infrastructure upgrades, digitalization and fleet renewal rather than relying solely on new rail construction. The company says artificial intelligence is already helping monitor 22,000 kilometers of railway infrastructure through its Smart Diagnostics system, allowing engineers to predict track defects up to 87 days in advance and significantly improve maintenance planning.
Automation projects now cover 3,000 kilometers of rail lines to increase capacity across seven major corridors.