Celebrating Transport Workers' Day in Kazakhstan: A Transition from Engineers to Logisticians
Kazakhstan's transport industry is experiencing significant growth and modernization, as evidenced by strong performance in passenger and cargo transportation, robust industrial output related to transport manufacturing, and substantial infrastructure and logistics sector development.
Passenger Transportation
In the first half of 2025, over 16 million passengers traveled via Kazakhstan’s air and rail transport systems. Approximately 9.5 million passengers chose rail travel, while 7.2 million opted for air travel. The rail network includes 154 passenger routes, with ongoing modernization efforts that have seen about 60 new passenger railcars added since early 2025.
Kazakhstan operates 61 domestic air routes and 144 international air routes, connecting 31 countries. The expansion of the air transport network is evident, with active growth in both domestic and international flights.
Cargo Transportation and Logistics
Road and rail freight traffic has been growing rapidly, particularly between Kazakhstan and China. This growth is evident in an 82% increase in road freight and significant rail freight expansion in early 2025. The logistics market in Kazakhstan is valued at approximately $11.36 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.44% to $17 billion by 2033.
The government encourages investment through special economic zones (SEZs) offering tax incentives and infrastructure support. Private sector investments, such as a $100 million warehouse terminal by Turkish firm S Sistem Lojistik, support this growth.
Strategic infrastructure developments include the Tobyl hub, Sary Arka Airport expansion, and a national cargo airline. These initiatives aim to bolster Kazakhstan as a transport and logistics hub on the Eurasian trade routes, particularly the Middle Corridor alternative to the Suez Canal.
Industrial and Manufacturing Output Related to Transport
Kazakhstan’s industrial output grew by 6.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2025. Machine building saw a growth of 11.1%, with a 12.1% increase in automotive manufacturing and a 7.1% increase in the production of other transport means.
Production of freight wagons surged almost fourfold, while cars increased by 23.6%, buses by 5.4%, and specialized vehicles by 82.2%. The automotive industry produced 71,494 units in the first six months of 2025, reflecting domestic manufacturing capacity growth.
Employment and Workforce
Though specific employment numbers in the transport industry are not provided in the current data, the industrial growth, expansion of transportation routes, and logistics investments imply increased job creation in transportation operations, vehicle manufacturing, logistics services, and infrastructure sectors.
Infrastructure Development
The focus on modernizing rail fleets and expanding air routes, together with strategic logistics infrastructure like SEZs, warehouse terminals, and national cargo airlines, underpins the transport sector’s growth. Kazakhstan’s geographic positioning on the Silk Road and the Middle Corridor trade route contributes to a strong government and private sector focus on enhancing transport infrastructure and capacity.
In summary, Kazakhstan’s transport industry in 2025 shows strong growth in passenger and cargo volumes, expanding domestic manufacturing of transport vehicles, and strategic infrastructure investments that transform the country into a vital Eurasian logistics hub. This growth is supported by robust government incentives, private investments, and increasing integration with international trade routes.
Currently, there are around 1,800 locomotives and 140,000 freight wagons operating in Kazakhstan. The transport industry in Kazakhstan is being supported by thousands of professionals who ensure smooth delivery of goods and timely vacations. Stadler Kazakhstan began production of new passenger cars in spring 2025, with the first 51 already being put into operation. In the first half of 2025, 550.8 million tons of cargo were delivered, marking a 10.9% increase. Multimodal routes are being strengthened, including container transportation from China to Europe that first travels by rail and then by sea. Nearly 9.5 million people used trains in the first half of 2025.
In the growing manufacturing industry of Kazakhstan, a notable expansion can be seen in the sector of transport vehicles, with domestic production of automotive units surging to 71,494 units in the first half of 2025. On the finance side, the logistics market in Kazakhstan is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated $17 billion by 2033, reflecting investment opportunities in this sector.
