Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Seek More Cargo via Middle Corridor

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The prime ministers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Olzhas Bektenov and Abdulla Aripov, visited the Aktau International Sea Trade Port during a meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, where they discussed prospects for increasing cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, the press service of the Kazakh prime minister said.

The two prime ministers reviewed the infrastructure and operational capacity of Aktau Port, Kazakhstan's largest seaport and one of the key hubs of the Middle Corridor. Covering an area of 44 hectares, the port has an annual cargo handling capacity of up to 12 million tonnes and provides year-round transport services to the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Caspian region.

Bektenov said the development of maritime infrastructure remains one of the Kazakh government's priorities. According to him, dredging work at Kuryk Port was completed in 2025, while similar work at Aktau Port is expected to be completed by the end of this year. This will allow the ports to receive fully loaded vessels, increase throughput and create conditions for further expansion of port infrastructure.

Yelzhas Otynshiyev, Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, said the combined capacity of Aktau and Kuryk ports is about 22 million tonnes per year. He added that container transit along the Trans-Caspian route through Kazakhstan's ports increased 3.8-fold between 2022 and 2025.

The first phase of a container hub with an annual capacity of 140,000 TEU has already been commissioned at Aktau Port. Following completion of the second phase in 2027-2028, its capacity will increase to 240,000 TEU. Six container vessels have also been ordered to support the development of maritime transport.

The parties also discussed measures to improve the efficiency of cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. They noted that the volume of Uzbek cargo handled through the ports of Aktau and Kuryk increased by more than 60% in 2025, supported by favourable tariff conditions and the development of railway and port infrastructure.

Following the talks, the prime ministers instructed the national railway companies Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Uzbekistan Temir Yullari to prepare a concrete plan to further increase freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.