KTZ: grain to Central Asia in 9 months — 5.5 Mt (+33%)

In the first nine months of 2026, NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy moved 5.5 million tonnes of grain to Central Asia — 33% more than a year earlier, Rail-news.kz reported on 14 October citing the company’s press service. Shipments to Uzbekistan reached 4.1 million tonnes, up 44%.

September set a network record of 1.5 million tonnes of grain, of which 701,000 tonnes went to Central Asia. In the first 10 days of October the region received 225,000 tonnes (+5% y/y), including 171,000 tonnes for Uzbekistan.

To raise throughput, Saryagash is handling up to 40 trains a day, the Arys sorting system has been upgraded, and direct trains are being formed on 14 Central Asian destinations. Uzbekistan Railways was leased 500 covered wagons to speed evacuation and free loading fronts at the Tashkent node. On 12–13 October a KTZ working group held talks in Uzbekistan with Uzbekistan Temir Yullari, the transport ministry, customs and consignees on timely receipt and unloading of grain.

For rail forwarding on Kazakhstan’s southern leg this signals a dense grain flow: wagons, fitting platforms for containerised grain and Saryagash windows need to be lined up early — alongside quotas and operational limits at the Uzbekistan border.

Source: Rail-news.kz, 14 October 2026.