In early September 2026, the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies of Kazakhstan issued an order according to which tariffs for the transportation of most goods on the country's railways will increase by 23-24% starting from September 21. The increase is a one-time one: in 2027, tariffs will remain unchanged at the new level, and from 2028, the annual indexation will be only 3%.
Until recently, Kazakhstan's rail freight tariffs were considered among the lowest in the CIS. This is what made the routes through the republic attractive for cargo transit between Russia, China and other BRICS countries.
The decision was the result of prolonged pressure from "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy". The company has been seeking a significant tariff increase since at least December 2025. At that time, the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies adopted an order that fixed tariffs unchanged throughout 2026-2027, and from 2028 provided for their growth by only 4-5%. The railway carrier considered this scenario insufficient and applied for revision twice during 2026. The second time, the regulator satisfied her.
An exception to the general increase was made for liquefied natural gas and socially important food products: tariffs for their transportation will remain unchanged for the entire period 2026-2030.
For foreign economic activity participants using Kazakhstan's railway infrastructure, a jump of 23-24% means a direct recalculation of logistics costs under existing contracts. This is especially noticeable for cargo flows transiting through Kazakhstan to China and back, as well as for importers importing goods from Central Asia. Companies that have concluded long-term contracts with a fixed freight rate should check the terms of tariff changes and the deadlines for notifying counterparties. The new tariff level will take effect in a few weeks — there is little time left to renegotiate prices.
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