Shipping from China to Khorgos, Kazakhstan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Khorgos · via Khorgos rail · clearance by State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime)
Freight from China into Khorgos clears through Khorgos rail. Khorgos is the dry port and free economic zone on the China border, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 3–8 days.
What you will pay on arrival in Kazakhstan
Imports into Kazakhstan are cleared by State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime). The headline position is: VAT 12%; EAEU common external tariff, typically 0–15%. The de-minimis threshold is EUR 200 for personal parcels under EAEU rules.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: EAC conformity mark valid across the Eurasian Economic Union. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Kazakhstan: EAC certification is required for most regulated products across the union. Rail capacity tightens sharply in Q4 and before Chinese New Year. Sanctions screening applies to any cargo that may continue into Russia.
How this lane actually runs
Kazakhstan is the main rail gateway between China and the EAEU. Block trains cross at Khorgos–Altynkol or Dostyk–Alashankou and reach Almaty in roughly 5–8 days, or continue to Moscow and Europe. Because Kazakhstan shares the EAEU customs union with Russia, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, clearing here can also serve onward EAEU delivery — but only if the paperwork is set up for it.
| Air gateways used | ALA (Almaty), NQZ (Astana) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 2–4 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Landlocked — Aktau on the Caspian for Middle Corridor cargo |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 12–18 calendar days by block train |
| Gateway serving Khorgos | Khorgos rail |
| Inland leg to Khorgos | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 3–8 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Before you book: Khorgos checklist
- Confirm the consignee in Khorgos can act as importer of record — State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: EAC conformity mark valid across the Eurasian Economic Union.
- Check the de-minimis position (EUR 200 for personal parcels under EAEU rules) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Put the Khorgos delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Air, sea or overland into Khorgos?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 2–4 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚂 Rail Freight | 12–18 calendar days by block train | inland destinations where sea is slow and air is expensive |
Transit shown is China departure to the Kazakhstan gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Khorgos and 3–8 days of clearance.
Mode guides for Khorgos
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Khorgos take?
China to the Kazakhstan gateway is 2–4 business days by air, 12–18 calendar days by block train by sea. On top of that, allow 3–8 days of clearance with State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime) and a same-day inland leg to Khorgos.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Khorgos?
State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime) applies: VAT 12%; EAEU common external tariff, typically 0–15%. The de-minimis position is EUR 200 for personal parcels under EAEU rules. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Khorgos.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Khorgos?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via ALA (Almaty), NQZ (Astana). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
When is the busiest time on the China–Kazakhstan lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Which port or airport does cargo for Khorgos clear through?
Cargo for Khorgos is routed via Khorgos rail. Sea gateways for Kazakhstan are Landlocked — Aktau on the Caspian for Middle Corridor cargo; air gateways are ALA (Almaty), NQZ (Astana). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Khorgos?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 12–18 calendar days by block train by sea versus 2–4 business days by air to the Kazakhstan gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Other delivery cities in Kazakhstan
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Kazakhstan change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with State Revenue Committee (EAEU common customs regime) or your broker before you ship.
- State Revenue Committee
- Eurasian Economic Union common tariff
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Khorgos
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.