In 2023, Kazakhstan managed to expand the number of countries it exports its locomotives to. In addition to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, the country has started exporting railway engines to Mongolia, according to the Ministry of Industry and Construction. Mongolia has already received four diesel-electric engines worth $4 million each for its railway system.
Two companies in Kazakhstan produce diesel-electric locomotives: Electrovoz Kurastyru Zauyty and Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty. Their combined capacity is 100 items per year.
Lokomotiv Kurastyru Zauyty is currently fully controlled by American Wabtec which increased its stake from 50% shares of the company to 100% in December 2023, when the U.S. imposed sanctions against Transmashholding, a Russian company that used to be a co-owner of the manufacturing site.
After purchasing shares from the Russian partner, Wabtec said that the deal would have little impact on the company’s revenue in 2024.