ASTANA, Kazakhstan, December 21. Kazakhstan has begun construction of a new railway line, Bakhty - Ayagoz, to China, Trend reports.
Construction of the railway line began in the Abay region on December 21. The length will be 272 kilometers.
During the construction of the new line, it is planned to open a third border crossing with China, Bakhty-Chuguchak.
Planned to put into operation in 2027, the new double-track Bakhty-Ayagoz railway line will increase the throughput capacity between Kazakhstan and China from 28 million to about 48 million tons, relieve congestion at southern checkpoints, and attract additional transit volumes.
The large-scale project will be implemented with the participation of a private investor on the principles of public-private partnerships.
During the construction process, 11 stations, 47 bridges, 23 railway and 8 road overpasses, 5 pedestrian bridges, and 16 observation structures will be built.
Over 500,000 units of sleepers and 36 tons of rails will be purchased from Kazakh manufacturers for construction. The approximate local content of the project will be at least 85 percent.
Meanwhile, the volume of cargo transported by rail between Kazakhstan and China amounted to 26.1 million tons, which was the agreed-upon annual plan. This figure increased by 22 percent compared to the same period in 2022.
The volume of cargo transportation through Dostyk station amounted to over 14.7 million tons, which is 17 percent higher than the level in 2022. Transportation through the Altynkol station increased by 30 percent compared to last year and reached more than 11.4 million tons.
For 2024, the volume of cargo transportation by rail is planned to reach 27.8 million tons.
Furthermore, in 2022, Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with China amounted to $24.1 billion, which is 34.1 percent more than a year earlier.
Exports from Kazakhstan increased over the year by 34.7 percent, to $13.2 billion. The share of Kazakhstan's exports to China accounted for a significant 15.6 percent of the country's total trade turnover.
Imports from China to Kazakhstan grew by 33.5 percent over the year, to $11 billion. China's share in the structure of imports from the Republic of Kazakhstan amounted to 21.9 percent.