The Kazakhstan Railways Company (KTZ) has temporarily banned the transportation of all types of cargo to stations in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan through the Saryagash border crossing from November 22 to 24. According to Ulysmedia, the decision was made due to a critical backlog of more than 8,800 railcars and delays in train reception by neighboring railway administrations, Asiaplus.tj reports.
KTZ clarified that the ban will be lifted once train schedules stabilize and Uzbekistan improves its reception capacity.
Earlier, from November 12 to 20, a similar restriction had been in place, affecting all cargo except grain, milling products, and perishables. However, the situation at the Saryagash border crossing remains difficult. According to Bizmedia, reduced reception of trains by Uzbekistan Railways has led to a large accumulation of railcars on the approaches.
The Forkagro platform reports that market participants are demanding prompt measures from KTZ. The peak transportation season—especially for grain—has increased pressure on infrastructure and caused significant delays affecting processors and exporters.
Last week, the railway authorities of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan held consultations and agreed on steps to stabilize the situation. However, by the end of the week, KTZ again introduced a full ban on transit to regional countries via Saryagash.
If the situation does not improve, business representatives plan to appeal to the President of Kazakhstan for support. Meanwhile, Tajikistan notes that problems on Kazakhstan’s railway network have already led to a shortage of liquefied gas, prompting the country to impose a limit of no more than 30 railcars per day.
As of November 25, 2025, transit through Saryagash remains suspended, and there has been no official confirmation of the resumption of transportation.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 25, 2025