Kazakhstan grain rail shipments rise 13% to 9.3 mln tonnes in 8 months

September 29, 2026 at 11:38 AM1 min

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

Kazakhstan transported 9.3 million tonnes of grain by rail in the first eight months of 2026, a 13% increase from the same period last year, Deputy Transport Minister Zhanibek Taizhanov told a government meeting. Exports accounted for 7.2 million tonnes and domestic shipments 2.1 million tonnes. The fleet includes 16,900 grain wagons, 17,800 covered wagons and more than 2,000 locomotives.

Key Facts

Kazakhstan moved 9.3 million tonnes of grain by rail in January–August 2026, up 13% year-on-year.
Exports reached 7.2 million tonnes, while domestic rail shipments totalled 2.1 million tonnes.
Grain shipments to Afghanistan rose 4.4 times to 655,000 tonnes.
The rail fleet has 16,900 grain wagons, 17,800 covered wagons and more than 2,000 locomotives.
Deliveries to Central Asian countries increased 37%, to China 34%, and via Russian ports 9%.

Rail Fleet Readiness

Deputy Transport Minister Zhanibek Taizhanov reported the figures at a government meeting on agricultural logistics. The current fleet includes 16,900 grain wagons, 17,800 covered wagons and more than 2,000 locomotives. Taizhanov said the park is sufficient for full grain transport and additional capacity is available if needed.

Export Route Growth

Shipments to Central Asian countries grew 37% in the eight-month period. Deliveries to China increased 34%, and volumes via Russian ports rose 9%. Grain transport to Afghanistan expanded 4.4 times to 655,000 tonnes.