BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 20. In the third quarter of 2025, the number of freight transportation requests by road from Kazakhstan to other countries dropped by half, Trend reports citing the international freight exchange platform ATI.SU.
While export demand declined significantly, the import sector showed signs of recovery. Domestic freight transportation also continued its upward trajectory. According to ATI.SU, the number of export freight requests in Q3 2025 decreased by 54 percent year-on-year and by 14 percent compared to the previous quarter. This drop was accompanied by a decline in freight rates — down 15 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
The most notable decreases were recorded in shipments to Russia and Belarus, which have traditionally been among Kazakhstan’s most active export destinations. Freight requests to Russia fell by 57 percent year-on-year, while those to Belarus dropped by 54 percent. This marks a sharp contrast to the first half of the year, when export demand had surged, with the number of requests increasing by 59 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
At the same time, import activity rebounded. Requests for inbound freight to Kazakhstan rose by 80 percent compared to the second quarter, and by 24 percent year-on-year. The pricing trend was also favorable for carriers: import freight rates increased by 14 percent over the year and by 8 percent quarter-on-quarter.
The recovery in imports was largely driven by renewed demand for shipments from Russia and Belarus. In particular, requests for deliveries from Russia increased by 23 percent year-on-year and by 82 percent compared to Q2. Shipments from Belarus also grew significantly, rising by 73 percent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, domestic transportation continues to strengthen. In Q3, the number of internal freight requests increased by 36 percent year-on-year and by 8 percent compared to the previous quarter. Over the first nine months of 2025, the total number of domestic transportation requests grew by 57 percent compared to the same period last year.
"The decline in demand for freight transportation to Russia and Belarus is primarily due to increased border control measures on goods subject to sanctions: in September, massive traffic jams formed at the Russian border. At the same time, demand for import cargo shipments, especially to Russia, has recovered. This could be attributed to exchange rate fluctuations. In the second quarter, the strengthening of the ruble restrained imports from Russia, while in the third quarter, even a slight weakening of the Russian currency made deliveries more profitable," commented Renata Zobova, head of the Kazakhstan office of the international freight exchange ATI.SU.
The agency also noted that ATI.SU's platform performance is outpacing official figures, which can be explained not only by the growth in actual demand for freight services but also by the platform’s expanding market presence. According to the National Statistical Committee, from January through August 2025, freight transport volumes increased by 1.8 percent year-over-year, while road freight turnover rose by 31.5 percent.
