Kazakhstan Opened New Rail Route for Lentil Exports
The rail-sea corridor allows agricultural exporters to bypass traditional supply bottlenecks by reaching India via the Caspian.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Transportation
Live Poll
Do you believe expanding international export routes for agricultural products benefits your nation's economy?
KTZ Express has successfully transported a shipment of lentils from the Akmola region of Kazakhstan to Mundra Port in India using the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. The move highlights the expanding logistics capacity for agricultural producers in a nation that currently ranks as the world's sixth-largest lentil exporter.
Why it matters
As Kazakh agricultural output surges, finding reliable multi-modal export routes is essential for producers to maintain global competitiveness. The Trans-Caspian corridor offers a strategic alternative to traditional transit, helping operators scale distribution amid a 56% year-over-year increase in pulse crop production.
Kazakhstan produced 1 million tons of pulse crops in 2025, marking a 56% increase over the previous year. The country currently maintains a global standing as the sixth-largest exporter of lentils.
The players
KTZ Express
A subsidiary of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy that manages international logistics and freight forwarding operations.
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy
The national railway operator of Kazakhstan responsible for the country's rail infrastructure and freight strategy.
The details
The shipment traveled by rail from Akkol station to the Port of Aktau, then moved by sea across the Caspian to the Port of Alat. From there, cargo transitioned by rail through Georgia to Poti, completing the journey by sea to Mundra Port in India. This multi-modal integration allows exporters to manage the logistical complexities of transporting heavy agricultural commodities through landlocked transit regions.
Timeline
The 2025 harvest season saw pulse crop production reach 1 million tons.
KTZ Express announced the completed lentil transport on September 23, 2026.
Market Landscape
The use of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route follows a pattern of diversifying export logistics to mitigate reliance on traditional transit corridors. It mirrors broader efforts to increase connectivity between Central Asian producers and Asian markets through established multi-modal transit networks.
Operators in the agricultural sector should monitor the transit times of this multi-modal corridor to determine if it offers a viable alternative to existing regional shipping lanes. Producers dealing with high output growth should evaluate how these infrastructure investments change the landed cost of goods for their international clients.
The takeaway
Reliable logistics capacity is the primary constraint on scaling agricultural exports in emerging high-growth markets. Operators should track the consistency and frequency of these cross-border shipments to assess the long-term feasibility of the route for their own supply chain planning.
Further reading
For more on evolving logistics strategies, see the Transportation section.
Live Poll
Do you believe expanding international export routes for agricultural products benefits your nation's economy?
