ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s top 10 export partners accounted for 79% of the country’s total exports in 2025, underscoring the continued concentration of its external trade, according to the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics’ report, published on Feb. 16.
Photo credit: Kazakh Association of Financiers.
Kazakhstan’s total foreign trade turnover reached $143.9 billion in January–December 2025, marking a 1.3% increase compared to 2024 in nominal terms. Exports totaled $79 billion, down 3.2%, while imports rose 7.4% to $64.8 billion.
Key trade partners
Kazakhstan’s main export destinations in 2025 included Italy and China, which accounted for 19.8% and 19.2% of exports, respectively. Russia followed them with 10.3%, the Netherlands with 7.6%, Türkiye with 4.9%, and Uzbekistan with 4.5%. These countries continue to anchor Kazakhstan’s export flows, particularly for energy resources.
On the import side, Kazakhstan relied most heavily on Russia and China, which supplied 29.7% and 29.2% of imports, respectively. Other key partners included Germany (4.8%), South Korea (3.5%), the United States (3.3%) and France (2.4%).
Energy and raw materials dominate exports
Kazakhstan’s export structure remained heavily reliant on commodities, with crude oil and petroleum products accounting for 50.5% of total exports. Other export categories included radioactive chemical elements and isotopes at 5.3%, refined copper and copper alloys at 5.2%, copper ores and concentrates at 3.6%, and ferroalloys at 2.6%.
This composition highlights the country’s continued dependence on energy and mineral resources, although processed metals also play a notable role.
Imports led by vehicles and pharmaceuticals
On the import side, Kazakhstan’s purchases were led by passenger cars, which made up 4.4% of total imports. Pharmaceuticals followed at 2.8%, along with telephone equipment at 2.4%, vehicle bodies at 2.3%, and auto parts and components at 2.2%. The structure reflects sustained domestic demand for consumer goods, transport equipment and healthcare products.
While overall trade turnover posted modest growth, the divergence between declining exports and rising imports signals a shift in Kazakhstan’s external trade dynamics. The data suggests increasing domestic demand alongside ongoing reliance on commodity exports, highlighting the importance of diversification efforts in the coming years.
