Border Checks Tightened on Kazakhstan-Russia Border

The time required for trucks to cross border checkpoints between Russia and Kazakhstan increased to three days in mid-June, according to industry sources. Currently, 99% of cargo entering Russia is being inspected at border crossings. As a result, a process that typically takes around ten minutes now stretches to 72 hours for consolidated shipments. The intensified inspections are likely linked to strengthened export controls and the need to comply with new regulatory requirements, including restrictions on the transportation of certain categories of goods without special permits from the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development. Customs officers are paying particular attention to food products, medical supplies, and items that require special permits or certification, such as industrial goods, machinery, and chemical products. The extended inspection times are also attributed to infrastructure shortages at border checkpoints and malfunctions in electronic queuing systems. As a result, delivery times on this route increased by 32% between January and April (for example, the average shipping time from Almaty to Moscow has risen to 11–14 days), while shipping costs have grown by up to 25% due to additional storage and handling expenses.