During a joint session of the intergovernmental commission, the Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Olzhas Bektenov and Abdulla Aripov, visited the port of Aktau and instructed officials to develop a plan to increase cargo traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), reports infohub.kz.
The Aktau International Sea Trade Port is Kazakhstan’s largest maritime hub and a key asset of the TITR. Covering 44 hectares, it has an annual capacity of up to 12 million tons of cargo. The port operates year-round, serving the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Caspian region.
Olzhas Bektenov noted that, on the instructions of President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, the government is prioritizing the development of the region's maritime infrastructure. In 2025, Kazakhstan became the first Caspian state to complete dredging operations in the waters of the Kuryk port. A similar project at the Aktau port is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, ensuring safe access for fully loaded vessels, increasing capacity, and enabling port expansion.
The head of the national company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, Yelzhas Otynshiyev, reported that the combined capacity of the Aktau and Kuryk port infrastructure is about 22 million tons per year. Container traffic is growing steadily: from 2022 to 2025, container transit along the TITR through Kazakh ports increased 3.8 times. To further boost volumes, port capacities are being expanded and railway approaches modernized. The first phase of a container hub with a capacity of 140,000 TEUs per year has been launched at the Aktau port; after the second phase in 2027–2028, total capacity will reach 240,000 TEUs. Orders have been placed for the construction of six container vessels: four to be delivered in 2027 and two in 2028. Modernization of the railway infrastructure on the Shalkar–Beineu and Beineu–Mangistau sections is also nearing completion, ensuring uninterrupted cargo delivery to the ports.
Special attention is being paid to improving the competitiveness of transport between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In 2025, the volume of Uzbek cargo handled through the Aktau and Kuryk ports grew by over 60%. Favorable tariff conditions have been created for shippers, and the developed infrastructure helps reduce delivery times.
“The head of state, Qasym-Jomart Toqaev, prioritizes the development of maritime and railway infrastructure. The Mangistau region is a strategic border area with high transit and logistics potential. Our task is to provide Central Asian countries with fast and reliable access to the markets of the Caucasus, Turkey, and Europe. Kazakhstan is ready to expand the transit of Uzbek export goods through the Aktau and Kuryk ports,” emphasized Olzhas Bektenov.
Following the visit, the Prime Ministers instructed Kazakhstan Temir Zholy and Uzbekistan Temir Yollari to jointly develop a concrete plan for increasing transport volumes.