Waiting for the tariff. This is how the Association of Kazakhstan Freight Rail Carriers (AKFRC) commented on the situation regarding tariff changes for KTZ mainline rail services, according to APK News.
"On May 15, 2026, the AKFRC held public hearings to review the application to change the approved tariff for mainline rail services before its expiration, as well as the draft KTZ investment program," the Association reported.
According to the AKFRC, the public hearings were attended by KTZ management, representatives of government agencies, the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, the media, and other interested parties.
The public hearings were relatively calm. KTZ justified the need for the tariff increase: the main reason for the change is the growth of investment projects.
It should be noted that the proposed tariff change is literally "fresh." By order of the Association of Railway Transport Operators (KREM), the five-year tariff for MZhS services was approved on November 29, 2025:
- for 2026-2027, tariffs will remain at the 2025 level;
- starting in 2028, a 4-5% increase is envisaged, within the inflation index.
However, as we see, this increase is not static, the Association noted, as KTZ has been applying to the authorized body since February of this year to change the approved tariff. Therefore, we expect the traditional increase of 20-30%. The announced moratorium limited the increase for all services to only the first quarter, including MZhS.
KREM management noted that the final decision on the application will be made within the timeframe and according to the procedure stipulated by Kazakhstan legislation, but we believe an increase is inevitable.
According to the deadline, the order should be issued in the coming days.
Meanwhile, grain industry participants noted that this issue is particularly sensitive for the agricultural sector.
"Previously, in February 2026, KREM rejected a similar application from KTZ, but the company resubmitted it.
What is KTZ proposing?
According to the submitted materials, the proposal calls for a significant revision of the investment program and a corresponding increase in the tariff burden on shippers. According to the application, KTZ's investment volume for 2026 is proposed to increase more than sevenfold. In connection with this, a significant increase in tariffs for railway services, including for grain cargo, is proposed. Changes in approaches to prioritizing transportation and distributing infrastructure loads between different cargo categories are also being discussed," the Grain Union of Kazakhstan reported.
Industry associations and market participants are drawing attention to the need to maintain a balance between the objectives of modernizing railway infrastructure and maintaining the competitiveness of the economy.
"This issue is particularly sensitive for the agricultural sector, as logistics remains a key contributor to the cost of grain; grain exports are carried out in a highly competitive environment in foreign markets; "The sharp increase in transportation costs directly impacts domestic procurement prices for agricultural producers. Market participants estimate that the additional burden on certain export routes could reach $20-30 per ton, which is comparable to or even exceeds the export margin for some shipments," the Union also noted.
The Grain Union supports the need to develop railway infrastructure and modernize the network, but its core position is that tariff increases should not exceed the rate of inflation.
"We also believe it is important that tariff decisions be made in stages, take into account the economics of individual industries, and avoid the loss of export markets and a reduction in income for agricultural producers.
Maintaining sustainable logistics for food exports from Kazakhstan and importing countries in Central Asia is of particular importance," the Union believes.