- Kazakhstan’s grain exports to Uzbekistan via rail jumped 32% in 2025 to 4.5 million tons, underscoring robust regional trade growth.
- Russian rapeseed oil exports to China hit a record 160,000 tons in December 2025, with full-year volumes rising 17% to 1.28 million tons.
- Overall freight volumes on Kazakhstan’s rail network increased 5.5% to 319.9 million tons, with export traffic up 7.1%.
- The Uzbekistan corridor saw bilateral freight volumes climb 16% to 32.3 million tons, reinforcing its role as a key Central Asian route.
- The KAZAKH GRAIN & LOGISTIC FORUM on February 3–4 in Almaty will focus on easing freight and logistics bottlenecks from field to port.
Regional Logistics Update
Kazakhstan’s national railway operator JSC NC KTZ reported that total freight volumes across its network reached 319.9 million tons in 2025, a 5.5% increase year-on-year. Export traffic rose even faster, up 7.1% to 89.2 million tons, highlighting growing demand for cross-border rail capacity.
The Uzbekistan corridor was a standout performer. Bilateral freight traffic between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan grew 16% to 32.3 million tons. Within this, rail grain shipments from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan surged 32% to 4.5 million tons, while total export traffic to Uzbekistan advanced 8.5% to 13 million tons.
Russian Rapeseed Oil Exports to China
China’s rapeseed oil imports from Russia reached a new monthly record of 160,000 tons in December 2025, exceeding the previous December 2024 peak of 155,400 tons. For the full year 2025, Russian rapeseed oil deliveries to China totaled 1,280,500 tons, a 17% increase versus 2024, according to data from China’s Customs Administration.
Key Freight and Trade Metrics
| Indicator | 2025 Volume | Change vs. 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan rail freight (total) | 319.9 million tons | +5.5% |
| Kazakhstan rail export traffic (total) | 89.2 million tons | +7.1% |
| Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan bilateral freight | 32.3 million tons | +16.0% |
| Kazakh grain to Uzbekistan by rail | 4.5 million tons | +32.0% |
| Total exports from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan | 13.0 million tons | +8.5% |
| Russian rapeseed oil to China (December) | 160,000 tons | Record high; >155,400 tons in Dec 2024 |
| Russian rapeseed oil to China (full year) | 1,280,500 tons | +17.0% |
Market Analysis
The sharp increase in Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan grain freight highlights the strengthening of regional trade corridors and the effective utilization of rail infrastructure in Central Asia. Rising volumes point to sustained demand for grain transport capacity and may incentivize further investment in rolling stock, terminals, and cross-border coordination.
Russia’s expanding rapeseed oil flows to China underline a structural shift in export geography. Higher pipeline volumes into China diversify Russian oilseed export routes away from the Black Sea, potentially easing congestion and freight pressure at Black Sea ports while intensifying competition for crushers and traders serving Asian markets.
The timing of the KAZAKH GRAIN & LOGISTIC FORUM in Almaty on February 3–4, 2025, is aligned with these trends. The dedicated logistics day focusing on infrastructure from field to port and railway terminals is likely to spotlight capacity constraints, tariff structures, and operational efficiencies as freight volumes continue to grow.
Event Focus: KAZAKH GRAIN & LOGISTIC FORUM
The KAZAKH GRAIN & LOGISTIC FORUM will bring together rail operators, exporters, traders, and infrastructure providers in Almaty on February 3–4, 2025. The second day’s focus on agricultural logistics infrastructure is expected to cover terminal throughput, wagon fleet optimization, cross-border scheduling, and integrated supply chains linking fields, storage facilities, rail nodes, and ports.
Source: Market Data
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