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Demand for road freight transportation from Kazakhstan has increased sharply
In the third quarter, the number of applicants increased by 1.5 times. Delivery may also increase, and not only in Kazakhstan, market participants say, and they expect prices to rise. Business FM asked representatives of the logistics industry whether they paid attention to the new role of Kazakhstan.
Demand for automobile transportation of Kazakh goods has increased sharply in Russia. Companies are looking for new delivery routes due to difficulties with logistics and payment with China. The Vedomosti newspaper reported that in the third quarter of this year, the number of applications received on the ATI.SU exchange for the transportation of goods from other countries to Russia increased by 68% year-on-year.
Compared to the second quarter, the number of applicants has increased by 1.5 times. The exchange, which combines shipments from Russia and neighboring countries, does not provide absolute value. Business FM asked representatives of the logistics industry whether Kazakhstan has a new role.
“I don’t think it’s a payment issue. We noticed a trend a few months ago where some Chinese shippers are asking for all export documentation and all shipping documentation to third countries. At the same time, we understand that Russian importers are using payment gateways when making payments. The payment agency acts as a payment agency, not as a purchasing agent. That is, there is a direct contract between the Chinese supplier and the Russian importer, who receives money through the payment agent (Chinese). But all the documents are processed in Russia. Now that we are part of the Chinese shipper, there is a third company that acts as a trading company or retailer between the Chinese shipper and the Russian importer. In this regard, the supply chain structure is starting to change a little. Interest in rail freight has started to decline, but interest in road freight has started to increase. From there, reissue the document or reload something from the customs warehouse. And of course, here in Kazakhstan, why not transit through Kazakhstan or bring the cargo to Kazakhstan first and then export it from Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation? I also think that there are factors, at least that we know for sure, that the Kazakh financial authorities have started to prohibit the re-export of these goods through Kazakhstan, rather than delivering them to Kazakhstan. Recently, the Kyrgyz authorities have done the same thing."
— It is not surprising that cargo flows to Kazakhstan have increased. Perhaps the main logistics route to bypass sanctions is Kazakhstan. Cargo flows are increasing, there is a single customs clearance zone, there is no need to go through additional customs, everything is cleared more easily. It may not be imported to Kazakhstan, but it is easier with some local documents. challenge. This is how we avoid these sanctions. In any case, goods are imported, especially spare parts for imported cars. We still have a large number of European cars.
— Are there any other countries that could potentially be convenient for freight transportation?
— Georgia, again via Turkey, via Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Anything that is even close to Europe is exactly the logistics chain that allows us to import goods from Europe today. Moving via Turkey, you can travel along the Caspian Sea to the same regions of Georgia and Armenia, stopping in Kazakhstan. It can be imported to Central Asian countries via Iran and Russia via Kazakhstan. The United Arab Emirates is currently an active participant in this chain.
— But at the same time, is the story about the China-Kazakhstan-Russia route the most popular now?
- Absolutely. The volume of trade with China is growing very quickly. There is a road to the Far East, a road to China via Vladivostok, a road to China via Mongolia, etc. There is an eastern direction, eastern China.
— Based on our cargo flows and client portfolio, we cannot say that there is a significant increase in cargo flows in this direction. However, we have heard about it, and this phenomenon is related to the fact that a number of requirements have been tightened both for payments and for broader groups of goods. At the same time, tariffs have increased in other countries for a number of groups of goods that importers use to transport goods to Russia. That is, customs duties have increased when sending these goods to a number of countries where they have traditionally been used, and now Kazakhstan is the most attractive from the point of view of this financial factor. Plus, it is a transit zone close to us, which we have traditionally begun to use much more now.
— In your opinion, which other countries are suitable for this purpose?
— Traditionally, we have always used Kyrgyzstan, but now this country has strengthened its financial policy. I believe that the existing supplies are still being made, but now, with new contracts and new payments, partners will face problems due to bank requirements. This means that you cannot pay for the goods. Now we are all subject to change. I think the region will have time to formalize this. Perhaps everything will change very quickly.