Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC (KTZ), L.A.C. Holding of Hungary, and Xi'an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. of China have formalized an agreement to establish a joint intermodal cargo terminal in Budapest, the Hungarian capital. The memorandum of cooperation in transport and logistics was signed during the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Hungary.
The terminal will be designed to handle 230,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) per year, a capacity intended to significantly increase freight volumes along the China-Europe-China rail corridor. The Budapest location offers access to a well-developed transport network supporting multimodal distribution across the European continent, making it a strategic addition to existing infrastructure on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).
Project proponents expect the facility to deliver measurable operational improvements, including shorter transit times, lower overall freight costs, and reduced dwell time during transshipment operations. The development aligns with broader efforts to strengthen overland connectivity between China and European markets through Kazakhstan's logistics corridor.
KTZ is actively extending its terminal footprint beyond Kazakhstan's borders as part of a deliberate strategy to build an integrated network along critical Eurasian transport arteries. The Budapest project forms part of this international expansion, supporting a stated national objective—articulated by the Head of State—to consolidate Kazakhstan's role as a pivotal transit hub linking Asia and Europe.