Kazakhstan lies on the main trade route between China and Europe. Khorgos is the border crossing through which a significant share of Kazakhstan's imports from China pass. Almaty is the country's largest distribution centre. For businesses working with Chinese imports, one of the key questions is: where is it more profitable to base a warehouse — near the border or in Almaty? Let's look at the economics.
265 km
from Almaty to Khorgos (border with China)
3–3.5 hours via highway E30 / Western Europe–Western China through the Almaty region
84.3%
of new warehouse construction — north of the Almaty agglomeration
2025: 320,000 m² — investors are betting on the Almaty hub, not Khorgos
0%
customs duties in the Khorgos SEZ
for import of goods for production in the zone — re-export without customs is possible under conditions
40%
Kazakhstan's consumer market — Almaty
largest end-consumer point in Kazakhstan — the main argument for an Almaty base
Khorgos: What It Is and Why It Matters
SEZ "Khorgos — Eastern Gates" is a special economic zone on the China border (265 km from Almaty). It includes:
- International Centre for Cross-Border Cooperation (ICCC "Khorgos"): retail trade, shopping for tourists
- Dry port: transhipment terminal for rail containers
- Industrial zone: manufacturing and processing with tax incentives
Khorgos for logistics is primarily:
- A wheel-change point (Chinese gauge → Kazakh gauge)
- Customs clearance (or placement in a free-trade zone)
- Cargo consolidation and temporary storage
Almaty for Logistics: Why Large Business Chooses Here
The record introduction of 320,000 m² of warehouses in the Almaty agglomeration in 2025 was not accidental. Almaty offers:
1. Market Capacity
40% of Kazakhstan's consumer market is concentrated in Almaty and its agglomeration. For retail distributors, storing in Almaty = minimal transport distance to the end consumer.
2. Logistics Infrastructure
- International airport: air cargo, urgent shipments
- Developed courier networks (DPD, CDEK, Kaspi, Yandex)
- Multimodal access: highway, rail branch (in Bayserke — 600 m)
- 3PL operators: Eurasian LP, Focus Aksengir, Mercury Logistics
3. Personnel
Warehouse operators, drivers, IT specialists for WMS — all in Almaty.
Khorgos: For Whom It Makes Sense
A warehouse or production facility in the Khorgos SEZ makes sense for specific business models:
Transit to third countries Goods from China → Khorgos (temporary storage/processing) → Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, EU. For re-export without release into the Kazakhstan market — no customs duties.
Production in the SEZ for re-export Imported components duty-free + production in the zone + export of finished goods. Incentives similar to the Alatau SEZ: 0% CIT, VAT, land tax.
Wholesale trade with Kazakhstan and Central Asia retail Wholesalers working with small retail shops in border regions (South Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) — Khorgos is closer in terms of transport distance.
Comparison: Almaty vs Khorgos
| Criterion | Almaty | Khorgos |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from China border | 265 km (3–3.5 hours) | 0 km (border) |
| Market within 100 km | ~3.5 million people (agglomeration) | ~300,000 people (East Kazakhstan, border area) |
| Transit to Russia/EU | Via rail + additional section | Direct rail, minus transhipment |
| Customs | Standard (EAEU) | SEZ — preferential conditions |
| Warehouse rental | 3,500–4,700 ₸/m²/month | Data limited, smaller market |
| Personnel infrastructure | Developed | Limited (small city) |
| Air cargo | International airport | None (nearest — Almaty) |
| E-commerce delivery | All courier networks | Limited |
| Banks, services, partners | All | Limited |
Hybrid Strategy: Khorgos + Almaty
For many companies the optimal solution is two warehouses:
-
Khorgos: temporary warehouse for customs clearance and transit. No long-term storage — an operational transhipment point.
-
Almaty (Kapshagay highway or Alatau district): the main distribution centre. Long-term storage, fulfilment, distribution across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
Khorgos–Almaty distance: 265 km, about 3.5 hours by truck = ~42,000–50,000 ₸ (shipping a 20-tonne container).
Break-even calculation
Building a Warehouse in Khorgos: Specifics
If the decision is to build there:
- Building codes: seismic zone 8 points (slightly less than Almaty)
- Climate: sharply continental, above-average wind loads
- Land: within the SEZ — preferential lease with purchase option
- Labour: shortage of skilled builders, brought in from Almaty
- Materials: logistics from Almaty adds 5–10% to the cost
We help select a location and design a warehouse for China trade in Almaty
StroyHub builds warehousing facilities in the Almaty agglomeration — the strategically advantageous base for distribution across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.