Between January and September 2026, 10.8 million tonnes of grain were transported across Kazakhstan’s railway network, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year (9.61 million tonnes). Export shipments accounted for 8.4 million tonnes of this total, marking a 14% rise.
The most significant growth was observed in shipments to Central Asian countries. Over the first nine months of the year, 5.5 million tonnes of grain were transported to the region by rail—a 33% increase over the same period in 2025. The bulk of this volume went to Uzbekistan (4.11 million tonnes, up 44%) and Tajikistan (1.18 million tonnes, up 16%). Shipments to Kyrgyzstan totaled 184,000 tonnes, while 30,000 tonnes were sent to Turkmenistan.
Growth in transport volumes was also recorded on other export routes. Shipments to China reached 750,000 tonnes, a 54% increase year-on-year. Exports to Afghanistan totaled 762,000 tonnes—4.3 times the volume recorded during the same period in 2025.
Grain loading volumes have continued to rise with the start of the new harvest season. In September 2026, grain loading reached a record 1.45 million tonnes, exceeding the figure for the same month in 2025 by 7%.
To ensure the stable and timely transport of the new harvest, the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan has established a Grain Task Force dedicated to organizing and coordinating rail-based grain shipments. The headquarters coordinates the activities of all participants in the transportation process, monitors the readiness of railway infrastructure and rolling stock, and takes the necessary measures to promptly resolve any issues that arise.
The necessary rolling stock has been prepared for transporting the new harvest. Currently, there are 16,900 grain hopper cars, 17,800 boxcars, and over 2,000 locomotives available. The existing rolling stock is sufficient to handle the full volume of grain shipments. Provisions have also been made to increase transportation capacity if necessary.