Russian Railways Extends 50% Discount for Fruit, Vegetable Shipments from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Until 2026

Russian Railways (RZD) has announced that its 50 per cent discount on transporting fruit and vegetable products from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be extended through 2026, continuing a successful initiative first introduced in 2021.

The preferential tariff applies to shipments in refrigerated containers owned by Uzbekiston Temir Yullari (Uzbekistan Railways) and Rohi Ohani Tojikiston (Tajik Railways), The Caspian Post informs via Tajik media.

The goal is to boost agricultural exports from Central Asia and strengthen trade and economic ties with Russia.

Special Tariffs to Support Regional Trade

Alongside the 50 per cent discount, RZD will maintain several other reduced-rate programs to enhance logistics efficiency:

20.4 per cent discount on refrigerated shipments from Selyatino station (Moscow region) to Sergeli and Jizzakh in Uzbekistan via the Kanisay border checkpoint, with the same rate applying to return shipments through Ozinki.

Ongoing discounts for cargo exports via Russian-Kazakh border crossings, supporting flows to China through Dostyk-Alashankou and Altynkol-Khorgos.

20 per cent discount for export-import container shipments via the Bolashak-Serkhetyaka crossing (Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan), part of the North-South International Transport Corridor (ITC).

For grain and legume exports along the eastern route of the North-South ITC - through Sarakhs and Akyayla (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) - an 8.9 per cent discount will remain in place until 2030.

Strengthening Regional Connectivity

These tariff measures aim to enhance transport links between Central Asia, Russia, and Iran, fostering sustainable trade cooperation across the broader Eurasian region.

Rising Trade Volumes

According to RZD, Tajikistan transported 5.6 million tons of cargo by rail in the first nine months of 2025 - a 16.1 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

With the extended discounts and new logistics incentives, RZD is reinforcing its role as a key transport bridge for Central Asian exports, helping regional producers reach new markets while keeping supply chains efficient and affordable.