Maritime Cargo Reaches 2.09 Million Tonnes
Kazakhstan’s maritime and coastal transport handled 2.086 million tonnes of cargo between January and June 2026. This was approximately 142,000 tonnes more than in the same period of 2025, representing year-on-year growth of 7.3%.
The result confirms that maritime transport continues to strengthen after the rapid expansion recorded in 2025, when annual cargo volumes reached 4 million tonnes. Although sea freight remains smaller than rail, road and pipeline transport, it has strategic importance because the Caspian Sea provides Kazakhstan with access to Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus, Türkiye and European markets.
The ports of Aktau and Kuryk are central to this network. They connect Kazakhstan’s domestic railways and industrial regions with ferry, container, bulk and project cargo services across the Caspian.
Freight Turnover Grows Faster Than Cargo Volume
Maritime freight turnover increased by 19.4% to 1.055 billion tonne-kilometres. In absolute terms, the indicator grew by approximately 171 million tonne-kilometres compared with the first half of 2025.
The difference between the 7.3% increase in tonnage and the 19.4% rise in freight turnover is significant. Based on the reported totals, the average distance covered by one tonne of maritime cargo increased from approximately 454 kilometres to 506 kilometres.
This suggests that longer-distance operations are becoming more important in the structure of Kazakhstan’s sea freight. The trend may reflect a larger share of international Caspian shipments and cargo moving as part of multimodal routes rather than short regional operations.
This development supports Kazakhstan’s ambitions to expand the Middle Corridor between Asia and Europe. However, stable schedules, sufficient vessel capacity and coordinated port operations will be essential if the route is to handle larger commercial volumes.
Maritime Freight Revenue Reaches KZT 15.63 Billion
Revenue generated by transport companies from maritime freight services reached KZT 15.63 billion in the first six months of 2026, equivalent to approximately $33.5 million.
The figures indicate that the expansion of maritime transport is creating demand not only for vessels but also for port handling, storage, customs clearance, freight forwarding and inland delivery services.
For operators, higher freight turnover can generate additional revenue even when growth in physical cargo volumes remains moderate. Longer routes require more vessel time, fuel, coordination and terminal resources, increasing the commercial value of each transported tonne.
At the same time, revenue growth does not automatically mean higher profitability. Shipping companies still face expenses related to fleet maintenance, port charges, fuel, weather-related delays and empty return capacity.
Caspian Infrastructure Becomes More Important
The new statistics reinforce the importance of investment in vessels, terminals and port infrastructure. Kazakhstan needs sufficient capacity to prevent the Caspian section from becoming a bottleneck as rail and container flows toward the Middle Corridor increase.
International operators are already showing interest in the market. K2Cargo News previously reported that AD Ports Group confirmed its strategic interest in Kazakhstan, including maritime operations and the development of cargo and grain terminals.
For Kazakhstan, stronger maritime transport provides more than additional cargo revenue. It creates alternative export routes, supports the diversification of foreign trade and increases the country’s importance in Eurasian logistics.
The next stage of growth will depend on whether ports, vessels, railways and customs systems can operate as one coordinated chain. If that happens, the Caspian Sea could account for a steadily growing share of Kazakhstan’s international freight market.
Read also: Can the Middle Corridor Become Eurasia’s Main Alternative?
