Light Expedition – Easy Transportation

The head of the Dostuk road border crossing between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been detained and placed in custody on suspicion of corruption and artificially creating vehicle queues. According to Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security, the official allegedly accepted bribes through intermediaries in exchange for facilitating truck crossings and turning a blind eye to unlawful activities at the checkpoint.

At the same time, pressure has increased on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border. Kazakhstan has tightened customs inspections, leading to significant congestion of trucks at road border crossings. The Eurasian Economic Commission stated that longer processing times on the Kazakh side are behind the growing queues.

Kazakh authorities describe the measures as targeted and temporary, aimed at combating illegal trade flows that may pose risks to national security. Taken together, these developments heighten transit risks in the region and raise fresh concerns about the transparency and efficiency of border administration.

Starting February 2026, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will begin applying navigation seals to track cargo transportation. The decision was adopted by the Eurasian Economic Commission.

The project will be implemented in three phases over a total period of approximately 18 months.

The first phase will start on February 11, 2026, covering the transportation of sanctioned goods, as well as alcohol, tobacco, clothing, footwear, machinery, and other product categories. Control measures will primarily apply to road transport, and in certain cases to rail transport.

The timelines for the second and third phases have not yet been disclosed.

At the same time, the mechanism is already being tested in practice. From February 1, 2026, a pilot project has been launched requiring the mandatory use of navigation seals for the transportation of timber and wood products from Russia to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The list includes unprocessed and sawn timber, technical wood products, railway sleepers, and other товарные позиции under HS codes 4403, 4404, 4406, and 4407.

The introduction of navigation seals aims to increase transparency in transportation, combat illegal trade, and strengthen control over sensitive cargo flows. For foreign trade participants, this means the need to prepare in advance for new requirements and adjust logistics processes accordingly.

Chinese company Guoyou Materials is developing a project to build a multifunctional port complex in Kuryk on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. Total investment in the project is estimated at $1.1 billion, and the facility is positioned as a key link in the logistics chain China – Caspian – Caucasus – Europe within the development of the Middle Corridor.

Construction works are scheduled to begin in 2026, with the port expected to become fully operational in 2028. The project предусматривает создание современного перегрузочного кластера, включая seven berths, warehousing and logistics facilities, rail and road access infrastructure, as well as the implementation of digital cargo flow management solutions, including TOS systems and EDI integration.

The designed capacity of the first phase will reach up to 180,000 TEU of container cargo per year, up to 180,000 units of vehicles, and approximately 2–3 million tons of bulk cargo. The project is expected to significantly strengthen the transit potential of the Caspian region and enhance the role of the Middle Corridor in Eurasian logistics.