First freight train from China’s Wuxi to Uzbekistan launches via new route through Kyrgyzstan

Chinese freight carriers have launched a new delivery route to Uzbekistan, according to Dunyo News Agency.

The freight train departed on April 16 from the city of Wuxi, located in Jiangsu Province, marking the first shipment of this kind from the region. The train is carrying mechanical equipment, plastic products, and other goods with a total value of 12.6 million yuan (approximately $1.7 million).

The train will travel by rail to Kashgar, where the cargo will be transferred to trucks. From there, it will continue through the Irkeshtam checkpoint into Kyrgyzstan, then on to Uzbekistan, and beyond to other countries.

The customs declaration for the shipment is completed at the point of departure in Wuxi, eliminating the need for re-declaration and additional inspections during the transfer. The delivery time from Wuxi to Tashkent is expected to be 15 days, compared to the previous 25.

According to the Chinese side, multimodal transportation along this new route is 10% cheaper than rail-only transport through Kazakhstan, and offers a 33% cost reduction compared to road-only transportation.

Additionally, on April 20, the first freight train carrying polyester chips departed from Chongqing to Uzbekistan. According to China Railway Chengdu Group, this route will operate twice a month going forward.

Mountain route project

In September 2022, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China agreed on a new 454-kilometer railway route. The financial structure of the project became one of the key topics in the following negotiations.

The final agreement on the construction of the railway was signed in June 2024. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will each hold 24.5% in the joint project company, while China will hold the remaining 51%.

According to Azamat Sakiyev, Director of “Kyrgyz Temir Jolu,” the total cost of the project is estimated at $4.7 billion. Half of this amount will be financed by the participating countries in accordance with their shares, and China will provide the remaining $2.35 billion as a non-commercial loan.

A month later, Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the allocation of $255 million to Uzbekistan Railways for the project. The first $14 million was scheduled to be disbursed by the end of 2024.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the railway took place in Jalal-Abad Region of Kyrgyzstan at the end of December. Once operational, the railway is expected to transport 15 million tons of cargo annually.