300 per cent growth in next four years predicted in rail transit cargo from China and South Asia through Kazakhstan to CIS and Europe.
One of the CIS and Central Asia's fastest growing freight forwarding and logistics service companies, STL, has unveiled plans to build bonded warehouses and an intermodal container terminal at the Kazakhstan town of Khorgos, on the China border.
STL's intermodal hub is due for completion by 2010 and complements the Kazakhstan government's US$500 million investment to upgrade rail and road infrastructure throughout the country in order to meet demand for booming cargo volumes from China to Central Asia, CIS and Russia.
"We estimate that rail freight volumes to and from China will grow by 300 per cent during the next four years via Khorgos and there is demand to expedite transit cargo by rail and road between China and Europe. The upgraded infrastructure and streamlined Customs procedures will mean faster transit times between China and Europe. STL's investment in this intermodal hub will provide our customers with shorter border transit times, improved security and better tracking and tracing of containers," said Erlan Dikhanbayev, Managing Director of STL.
The Kazakhstan authorities are looking to attract 4 per cent of cargo volumes currently by sea between China and the EU and move it by rail. STL has grown rapidly during the last 12 months opening offices in Singapore, India, Iran and Dubai as trading booms with the resource rich CIS and Central Asia region.The company also has offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Central Asia and Russia are rich in natural resources such as oil, gas and minerals and has modern heavy industries such as steel plants. As the economies grow in the region demand for imported goods and materials is increasing.
STL provides a comprehensive range of freight services to destinations Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Russia through gateways in Qingdao as well as through Bandar Abbas port in Iran and has a well established network of partners in Europe, US and other parts of the world.
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