Since mid-September 2025, the delivery of goods from China to Russia via Kazakhstan has faced serious difficulties. The Kazakh authorities have introduced an almost one hundred percent inspection of all goods in transit along this route. The inspections affected both road and rail shipments, which led to huge congestion at border crossings and increased transportation costs.
According to market participants, on the border of China and Kazakhstan in the area of the Dostyk checkpoint/Alashankou" has accumulated about 10 thousand trucks. Previously, registration took a day, but now it takes from three to seven days. Additional difficulties arose on the border of Kazakhstan with Russia, where more than 2.5 thousand trucks gathered. This is partly due to the activation of mobile groups of the Russian customs, checking goods for "gray" imports.
Yuri Fioshkin, Deputy CEO of BMJ-Logistics, explains that the increased control is directly related to Western sanctions. Kazakh customs services carefully check shipments that may be subject to restrictions, especially dual—use goods such as electronics and auto parts. Because of this, up to 99% of transit imports bound for Russia are subject to inspection.
As a result, transportation companies are forced to look for alternative routes. Among them is the Zabaikalsk/Manchuria crossing with a capacity of up to 600 vehicles per day, as well as a route through Mongolia connecting Urumqi, Tashanta and Novosibirsk. However, these paths also have limitations and require additional time.
The situation on the railway began to stabilize only by the end of October. Sergey Shmigovsky from ModernWay notes that in September, the Kazakh Border Guard Service decided to check every container, which effectively paralyzed train traffic. New trains are being processed faster now, but the consequences of delays are still being felt - freight rates have increased by $200-500 per container.
In addition, the waiting time for the formation of trains has increased: most places on container trains are occupied until the end of October, new orders are accepted with shipment only in November. Despite the partial improvement, the market continues to be under pressure due to a combination of factors - seasonal volume growth, logistical disruptions and customs checks.
Experts note that such stricter controls have been occurring regularly since 2022 and are usually temporary. After a surge in inspections, the situation stabilizes, but each new inspection cycle leads to additional costs and delays in deliveries. The Kazakh side emphasizes that it does not support sanctions against Russia, but it also does not intend to become a channel for circumventing restrictions.
For importers, this means the need to plan deliveries in advance, laying down a reserve of time and finances. Despite the stabilization of rail transit, routes through Kazakhstan remain risky, and logistics companies continue to diversify their supply lines.
