China continues to push its economic agenda into the 21st Century with massive modernization to the Silk Road. The new initiatives are called the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road. With clients of SpaceKnow highly focused on this project over the next decade, we continue our studies of China and its economic ambitions with a look at two ‘ports’ connecting China to Pakistan and Europe. One of these is a traditional water based port, while the other is to be the world’s largest dry port that in reality is a massive rail hub with facilities to store cargo.
Khorgos port in Kazakhstan is soon to be the world’s largest dry port – a train hub connecting China to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The dry port is located on the border between China and Kazakhstan in a town called Khorgos. The port began construction prior to 2013 and its cargo activity has increased dramatically since. It is expected to handle up to 30 million tonnes of cargo a year.
Railway exchange station Khorgos Port, China 1:
SpaceKnow looked at cargo on the China side of this dry port from 2008 – 2018. The amount of cargo increased from 2013 and doubled from 2016 to November 2017.
Railway exchange station Khorgos Port, China 2:
The second part of the dry port located on the China side of the border also shows a steady rise in cargo from 2013.
Railway exchange station Khorgos Port, Kazakhstan:
SpaceKnow has also studied the train station built in Kazakhstan connecting the Silk Road route from China to the Western world.
Expanding Residential Footprints: China
With expanding workforces and supporting populations, satellite data shows surging construction activity in the area.
Gwadar Port: Pakistan
SpaceKnow has also done some analysis of another path on China’s new Silk Road. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will augment the link between Pakistan, China and Central Asia.
SpaceKnow viewed cargo activity at this critical port in a study from April 2009 to July 2018.
Published by SpaceKnow Team
