PTC Holding is ready to participate in the development of Eurasian transport corridors. In September of this year, during a state visit to Kazakhstan, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed the need to increase bilateral cooperation in the transport and logistics sector.

One of the most prominent Kazakhstani players in this segment of the international cargo transportation market is the PTC Holding Group of Companies, whose subsidiary, PTC Cargo, intends to open its branch in China in the near future. This will increase the volume of transit cargo flows between China and Europe, the Persian Gulf countries, Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Georgia, the CIS countries, the Baltic States.

PTC Holding is an international diversified group of companies, which is one of the largest owners and operators of various railway rolling stock and infrastructure in Central Asia, and is already well known to Chinese shippers.

Carrying out transportation throughout Eurasia, the Group has replenished its infrastructure park with a multifunctional cargo handling terminal at Dostyk station with a design capacity of 160 thousand tons since 2021. DFE (twenty-foot equivalent) per year. And in the summer of this year, the second stage of the project was put into operation at the same Dostyk TransTerminal site, doubling the terminal’s capacity to 320 thousand TEU, and the corresponding railway infrastructure that allows cargo to be handled using “through” technology quickly and safely.

“The capacity of the terminal currently allows to overload nine trains per day. In addition, a new siding has been built, which makes it possible to overload cargo without entering the Dostyk station. That is, a container train from China enters the terminal, is overloaded, is formed for the customer and then goes to the destination through a new siding directly to the main railway network. We received the documents on the new railway infrastructure on September 1, recruited employees, trained them, and from October 1 passed 27 container trains through the Dostyk station Severny park,” Olzhas Shilterkhanov, General Director of PTC Cargo, shared the results of the work.

Dostyk TransTerminal is the first and currently the only terminal at Dostyk station that allows you to organize transportation using “end–to-end” technology. Moreover, it is possible to form long–composite container trains – up to 71 conventional units – this is the agreed maximum length of trains between the roads of Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia.

Now the first stage of Dostyk TransTerminal is loaded at 100%, the second is gaining momentum, and by the end of this year it is planned to bring it to the maximum production capacity of 320 thousand TEU. In the future, the construction of the third stage will bring the total capacity of this transshipment base at the Dostyk station to 480 thousand tons. DFE per year.

At the moment, PTC Cargo is opening a subsidiary in China that will cooperate with local logistics platforms and find cargo volumes to redirect them through Kazakhstan.

“The registration of our branch in Shanghai is coming to an end. It is a full-fledged international company capable of carrying out economic activities, independently entering into contractual relations with Chinese carriers, forming its own pool of customers. We need this so that we can directly offer the door to door service from point A to point B directly to the shipper, not only to the forwarder or container carrier with whom we are currently working. The ability to control logistics along the entire route will allow for high-quality planning of the passage of goods through interstate junction points, ensure timely delivery of rolling stock for these cargoes, control all aspects related to document flow, registration of transit declarations at the junctions. Well, when our company operates all the way, we can guarantee the best service to the client,” Olzhas Shilterkhanov said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping noted in September this year that China and Kazakhstan are successfully working to create a highly efficient and convenient multimodal transport artery in Eurasia. This is true, and the transit of freight trains in the direction of China – Europe established on the territory of Kazakhstan plays a significant role in ensuring the continuity of global supply chains and production.

Now, due to the prevailing geopolitical conditions, Beijing is actively exploring alternative transport and logistics routes bypassing Russia. China has already launched a test railway route to Germany via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Since 2019, logistics in the world has changed dramatically. Kazakhstan is ready to offer many solutions for the transportation of products to its partners and global markets. PTC Cargo is ready to offer the organization of transportation of any complexity through its own facilities and its agents and partners, to find a flexible and universal solution for each client. Including the route of the TMTM (Middle Corridor).

TMTM is a Trans–Caspian international transport route that goes from China to Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and further to Turkey and European countries. For 9 months of 2022, the volume of traffic by TMTM increased 2.7 times compared to the period last year, reaching 1 million 84 thousand tons of cargo. Members of the TMTM Association are 20 companies, including railway administrations, ports, shipping and logistics companies from eight countries.

“Our trans-Caspian corridor is becoming relevant and attractive for China. We have already sent an official letter to the Association of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route about the inclusion of transportation from the Dostyk station in the TMTM route. This will create additional opportunities for Chinese shippers to transport goods to Europe, – says the head of PTC Cargo. – As you know, China plans volumes and routes in advance. If they see that the Khorgos station is overloaded, they do not agree on a plan. This means that the cargo will not receive approval within the PRC and will remain for the next month. If Dostyk appears in TMTM, then, accordingly, in such a situation, the cargo can be sent through Alashankou,” Olzhas Shilterkhanov explained.

In the current global situation, the route China – Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan –Turkmenistan – (change of track) also looks interesting – Iran– Turkey – Europe. Completely overland, it can take over part of the flows that today fall out of the traditional routes passing through the territory of Russia, Belarus and further to Europe. PTC Holding, together with its subsidiaries, is ready to “roll out” this transport “branch” as well, reducing travel time for Chinese shippers.

“According to the results of the current year, PTC Cargo plans to transfer about 160 thousand containers to the DFE through Dostyk TransTerminal, which is about 15% of the annual container cargo flow through Kazakhstan. At the same time, PTC Cargo is ready to increase volumes, so we welcome the position of the leadership of China and Kazakhstan, Central Asian countries, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia on building new logistics chains, investing in the development of railway infrastructure, rolling stock, including with the involvement of private investment – and we ourselves take an active part in this”, – concluded the head of PTC Cargo.

PTC Cargo also provides its 20-foot Hard-top containers for transportation. Their versatility lies in the fact that they are suitable for a very extensive range of goods (from grain and other bulk cargo to dimensional equipment). The reinforced container design allows loading up to 32 tons, or 37.6 cubic meters per container. The removable sealed lid and opening end doors will allow shippers to develop a better scheme for loading their products and be sure of their safety. Containers have already become a symbol of cooperation between Chinese manufacturers and our company, they are certified and available for transportation by any type of transport.