Aktau container hub begins operations, boosting transit capacity

July 23, 2026 at 07:45 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

A new container hub in Aktau, the largest specialized terminal in the Caspian Sea, has begun full operations. The facility processed its first container train in July, aiming to cement Kazakhstan's role as a key transit link between East and West.

Terminal Capacity

The first phase of the hub covers 10 hectares and includes storage areas, a customs inspection zone, administrative buildings, and three railway tracks. Two gantry cranes with a lifting capacity of 41 tons each can transfer containers from rail to storage in minutes. The terminal's throughput after both phases will reach 240,000 TEUs annually.

Cargo Flow

The hub handles a diverse range of goods, from consumer products to heavy equipment. Transit from China accounts for 60% of volume, imports 25%, and Kazakh exports 15%. Destinations include Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and European countries, with future plans to serve the North-South corridor to Iran.

Employment and Expansion

Currently 45 specialists operate the terminal, with plans to expand to 180 after the second phase begins in 2027. The next stage will develop the remaining 9 hectares, increase railway tracks to nine, and add a dedicated area for refrigerated containers.