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Freight Corridors Add Capacity

2 days ago
3 min read

🚨 Market Signal


Eurasian freight networks are adding capacity while becoming more digitally connected. China’s first paperless international rail waybill pilot introduces a new model for cross-border rail documentation, while Kazakhstan is combining rising China-bound rail volumes with construction of a third rail border crossing. In air cargo, new dedicated services are strengthening links between Central Asia and the UAE, with flydubai preparing Almaty-Dubai cargo flights and SolitAir already operating to Tashkent and Navoiy. Uzbekistan is also advancing major rail, road, airport and international corridor projects, reinforcing its position within wider Eurasian freight networks.


In this edition, we explore how digital rail processes, new air cargo capacity and major transport infrastructure projects are reshaping freight connectivity across China, Central Asia and Uzbekistan.



China Pilots First Paperless International Rail Waybill at Suifenhe

China Railway launched its first pilot of an international intermodal electronic waybill at Suifenhe Port on 17 September, replacing traditional paper documentation across the cross-border rail process.


  • The first electronic waybill covered 276 tonnes of industrial raw materials moving from Suifenhe through Russia’s Grodekovo border station to Chelyabinsk Oblast.

  • Cargo acceptance, border handover and final delivery can now be processed digitally instead of relying on paper documents travelling with the train.

  • The system is supported by data exchange between the Chinese and Russian railway networks, including cross-border recognition of electronic signatures.

  • China Railway plans to use the Suifenhe pilot to develop the model further and potentially extend paperless documentation to additional international rail gateways, including Manzhouli and Tongjiang.



Flydubai to Launch Weekly Almaty-Dubai Cargo Service

Flydubai will launch a dedicated Almaty-Dubai-Almaty cargo service on 2 October, adding a new scheduled air freight connection between Kazakhstan and the UAE.


  • The service will operate once a week using Boeing 737 aircraft.

  • Flights will carry both import and export cargo between Kazakhstan and the UAE.

  • The route follows flydubai’s launch of dedicated freighter operations from 1 October, with Boeing 737-800 freighters joining its cargo network.


Kazakhstan-China Rail Freight Reaches 18.7 Million Tonnes 

Rail freight between Kazakhstan and China reached 18.7 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, increasing 9% year-on-year, while construction continues on a new railway designed to add another border crossing between the two countries.


  • Kazakhstan’s rail exports to China increased by more than 10% during the period.

  • Construction is underway on the 303-km Bakhty-Ayagoz railway, including earthworks, bridges and track laying.

  • Nearly 1,400 specialists and 900 pieces of equipment are currently working on the project.

  • Once completed, the route is expected to create a third rail border crossing between Kazakhstan and China and provide capacity of up to 25 million tonnes annually.



SolitAir Launches Cargo Services to Tashkent and Navoiy

UAE-based cargo carrier SolitAir launched new services to Tashkent and Navoiy on 17 September, adding dedicated air freight capacity into Uzbekistan with a particular focus on perishable cargo.


  • The two airports join SolitAir’s existing Central Asian network covering Bishkek, Almaty and Astana.

  • SolitAir operates seven Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, each offering approximately 20 tonnes of cargo capacity.

  • Uzbekistan handled around 57,200 tonnes of air cargo in H1 2026, according to the carrier’s market data.

  • The new connections link Uzbekistan with SolitAir’s wider network of more than 60 destinations across Asia, Africa and Europe.


Uzbekistan Reports Progress Across Major Transport Corridors

Uzbekistan reviewed the implementation of several transport and logistics projects already under construction or active development, including railway, road, airport and international corridor infrastructure.


  • Construction is underway on new airport infrastructure in Tashkent and Bukhara, with total project value approaching US$3 billion.

  • Construction of the US$2.2 billion Tashkent-Samarkand toll road began in August.

  • Work continues on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, alongside upgrades to key domestic railway sections carrying growing industrial freight.

  • Uzbekistan is also progressing logistics infrastructure initiatives linked to Aktau, Turkmenbashi, Baku, Poti and Anaklia ports, broadening access to Caspian and Black Sea routes.


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