Kazakhstan, China set to launch international container hub in Aktau

Kazakhstan and China have completed final preparations for the launch of the International Container Hub at the Port of Aktau, a major logistics project aimed at strengthening trade links between Asia and Europe.

Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) and China's Port of Lianyungang have confirmed their readiness to begin operations at the new facility, with the official launch expected by the end of June, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media.

The hub is designed to serve as a key component of an integrated transport network connecting China with markets in the South Caucasus, Türkiye, and Europe via Kazakhstan. It is expected to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor.

According to Kazakhstan Railways, the project will reinforce the Trans-Caspian route's role as one of the principal trade corridors linking Asia and Europe, offering an alternative to traditional transport routes.

The development comes amid growing freight volumes along the corridor. In 2025, container traffic on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route reached 42,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking a 15% increase compared with the previous year.

By Sabina Mammadli