Kazakhstan, China Launch Container Terminal in Almaty

Kazakhstan and China have officially inaugurated the Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty, marking a major advancement in regional logistics and freight infrastructure.

The project is a partnership between Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), and Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation Co., Ltd. of China, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

Designed to handle up to 115,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) annually, the Zhetysu terminal is expected to serve as a strategic center for consolidating and distributing Chinese goods transported via rail and road.

Situated at the intersection of key international transit corridors, the terminal is positioned to become Kazakhstan’s largest import hub and a vital link along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a growing trade pathway connecting China and Europe through Central Asia.

The facility spans 9.8 hectares. Its container yard covers 9,200 square meters and can store up to 1,101 TEU at a time. It also features 23,400 square meters of warehouse space and an 8,900-square-meter parking area for commercial vehicles.

The terminal’s launch was marked by the arrival of the first container train from Xi’an, home to the Kazakh-Chinese cargo terminal that began operations in February 2024.

Yuan Xiaojun, General Director of Xi’an Free Trade Port Construction and Operation, described the new Almaty terminal as both a symbol of China-Kazakhstan cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and a catalyst for greater regional economic integration.

“This international logistics hub will help ensure sustainable growth in economic cooperation between China, Kazakhstan, and the broader Eurasian region,” Yuan said.