Key facts
- Kazakhstan seeks a partnership between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and its Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk.
- The Middle Corridor connects China with Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus.
- Kazakhstan is investing heavily in railways, roads, seaports, and terminals along the Middle Corridor.
- Transit times from Europe to Kazakhstan have decreased to approximately 40-60 days.
- The Middle Corridor transported 44,000 TEUs in the first eight months of 2026, a 58% increase year-on-year.
- Kazakhstan produces 21 of the 34 raw materials considered critical for European industry.
Kazakhstan is actively seeking to enhance its trade capacity along the Middle Corridor by forging a partnership between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium and its own Caspian ports of Aktau and Kuryk. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the initiative during the Belgium-Kazakhstan Business Council meeting in Astana, emphasizing Kazakhstan's significant investments in infrastructure such as railways, roads, seaports, and terminals to support this route.
Tokayev highlighted Belgium's extensive experience as a European logistics hub and expressed anticipation for a concrete partnership that could open new markets for Kazakhstan's metals, petrochemicals, and agricultural products. King Philippe of Belgium echoed this sentiment, supporting the Middle Corridor and advocating for stronger connections between the route and European logistics networks.
Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, confirmed that discussions with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges are ongoing, with the aim of securing agreements and logistics contracts. He stressed that the economic viability of the Middle Corridor is paramount, noting that negotiations are complex but expected to yield results soon.
Practical challenges for the Middle Corridor were also discussed. Dave van den Bos, CEO of Ahlers Logistics, pointed out that while infrastructure investment is progressing, the coordination of handovers between the numerous companies and authorities involved remains a significant hurdle. He emphasized the critical role of digitization in streamlining processes, as delays can still occur at borders despite improved transit times, which have fallen to 40-60 days from Europe to Kazakhstan. Port congestion and weather on the Caspian Sea also contribute to delays.
Data from Kazakhstan Temir Zholy indicates a substantial increase in Middle Corridor traffic, with approximately 44,000 TEUs transported in the first eight months of 2026, a 58% rise compared to the previous year. Kazakhstan aims to boost overall freight volumes along the route to 10 million tonnes.
Belgium is a significant investor in Kazakhstan, with over $15 billion invested in the past two decades. The business forum also saw the signing of 17 agreements across various sectors, including logistics, agriculture, AI, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing. Tokayev also underscored Kazakhstan's role as a supplier of critical raw materials, producing 21 out of 34 materials essential for European industry, and supplying Belgium with titanium and molybdenum. The visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde marks the first state visit by a Belgian monarch to Kazakhstan, aiming to deepen bilateral ties ahead of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.