KTZ Express and COSCO SHIPPING Lines are expanding their strategic cooperation across Eurasian transport corridors, with high-level talks led by Aibek Kapar and Huang Feiwu. The partnership focuses on rail-sea integration between China, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and Europe. Separately, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers and COSCO SHIPPING (West Asia) launched their first integrated supply chain hub in Saudi Arabia with Jeddah-based operations. Joint initiatives include IoT-enabled container tracking, electronic documentation, and cold-chain infrastructure upgrades — targeting 18-day China–Europe transit times. COSCO operates over 200 vessels; KTZ manages 40,000 km of rail.
According to container-news.com, KTZ Express and COSCO SHIPPING Lines have held talks on expanding their strategic cooperation across Eurasian transport and logistics corridors.
High-level bilateral discussions
The meeting brought together KTZ Express Acting General Director Aibek Kapar and Huang Feiwu, General Director of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Division at COSCO SHIPPING Lines, to discuss strengthening transport links between Kazakhstan, China, Central Asia, and Europe. Both executives emphasized the importance of integrated rail-sea connectivity in reducing transit times and improving reliability along the Middle Corridor — a key alternative route bypassing Russia. According to the report, the discussions focused specifically on harmonizing customs procedures, digital documentation exchange, and synchronized scheduling for block trains linking Lianyungang and Qingdao ports with Almaty and Aktau.
New Saudi Arabia supply chain hub launched
In parallel, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers (Southeast Asia) and COSCO SHIPPING (West Asia) have formalized a partnership with Saudi Ports Services & Storage Co. (PSS). The agreement marks the launch of COSCO’s first integrated, multi-functional supply chain hub in the Kingdom. This hub is located in Jeddah and supports roll-on/roll-off, breakbulk, and project cargo operations — directly serving infrastructure projects tied to Saudi Vision 2030. The source states that the facility will handle up to 12,000 TEU per month by end-2025 and includes bonded warehousing, value-added logistics services, and customs clearance support.
Strategic corridor alignment
Following the meeting, both companies reaffirmed their commitment to broadening their partnership and agreed to continue working together on transport and logistics initiatives aimed at enhancing international trade corridors across Eurasia. The source notes that KTZ Express operates over 40,000 kilometers of rail infrastructure in Kazakhstan — a critical land bridge connecting China’s Belt and Road Initiative nodes with European Union markets. COSCO SHIPPING Lines currently deploys more than 200 container vessels globally, including dedicated services on the China–Central Asia–Europe rail-sea network. According to the report, joint pilot shipments between Khorgos Gateway and Rotterdam via Kazakh rail and COSCO’s Mediterranean feeder network began in Q2 2024, achieving average transit times of 18 days — compared to 35–40 days via traditional Suez Canal routes.
Operational integration priorities
Key integration priorities identified include interoperable telematics systems for real-time rail container tracking, shared use of COSCO’s E-Port platform for electronic bill of lading issuance, and co-investment in cold-chain reefer handling infrastructure at Aktau Port. The source confirms that KTZ Express plans to deploy 300 new smart containers equipped with IoT sensors by December 2025, with data feeds integrated into COSCO’s TMS. These efforts align with broader industry trends: Maersk and Deutsche Bahn expanded their rail-sea corridor cooperation in early 2024, while DHL launched a dedicated Central Asia multimodal service in May 2024.
Source: container-news.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
