According to a report by Kyrgyzstan Economist Network on February 28, from March 7,2025, Kazakhstan Railway Company will greatly increase railway freight rates, which will have a great impact on Kyrgyzstan's transit cargo transportation. The new tariff will increase transportation costs by 16%, which may seriously affect the cost of goods imported from Russia. Among them, fuel and lubricants are the most affected, 90% of Kyrgyzstan's fuel and lubricants are imported from Russia via Kazakhstan.
In 2024, Kazakhstan raised transportation costs five times, resulting in a 31% increase in transportation costs. In addition to the increase in transportation costs, the strong rise in the Russian ruble has also put additional pressure on commodity costs. The ruble has risen 13 per cent in the past three weeks and is on track to rise further. The increase in transit transport costs and the strengthening of the ruble exchange rate may lead to an increase in the cost of commodities such as fuel and lubricants in Kyrgyzstan's domestic market. (Source: official website of Ministry of Commerce of People's Republic of China)