Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as a key transit hub between China and Europe, with Khorgos playing a central role.
Just a few years ago, Khorgos was seen mainly as a border checkpoint, but today it has become one of the fastest-growing logistics hubs in Eurasia, handling major cargo flows between China, Europe, and Central Asia. In 2025, Khorgos Gateway processed over 372,000 twenty-foot containers, a 2% increase from the previous year, demonstrating stable demand despite global logistical challenges.
The hub has evolved into a full-scale transport and logistics center, with routes extending beyond China-Europe to Central Asian countries, and it now includes specialized facilities for container and agricultural cargo. Such diversification makes it possible to work not only with containerized cargo, but also with agricultural products, which is especially important for exports from Kazakhstan. Infrastructure expansion in 2025 added ten new broad-gauge rail lines, significantly boosting capacity, while digital modernization reduced container handling times from five hours to one, improving efficiency and lowering shipping costs.
Khorgos is part of a long-term joint strategy between Kazakhstan and China to create sustainable alternative transit routes, complementing projects like the Lianyungang logistics base. Its development has fostered an industrial-logistics cluster around the port, attracting investment, creating jobs, and deepening Kazakhstan’s integration into global supply chains. The results confirm that Khorgos is no longer experimental; it is now a stable driver of regional trade and a key engine for Kazakhstan’s economic growth.