ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade entered a stronger phase in January-June, with exports growing faster than imports and non-resource and processed goods gaining ground in major international markets. The key question is whether this represents a temporary improvement in trade performance or a stronger shift in the structure and geography of Kazakhstan’s exports.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan Business Directory.
Exports outpace imports
In January-June, Kazakhstan’s exports reached $40.3 billion, up 8.6% compared to a year earlier, while imports increased 5.4% to $31.5 billion. Total foreign trade turnover rose 7.2% to $71.8 billion, producing a positive trade balance of around $8.9 billion.
Faster export growth matters because it shows external demand is driving trade expansion more than imports. Exports increased by approximately $3.2 billion compared with the first half of 2025, while the overall trade balance remained firmly positive, reported the Ministry of Trade and Integration on Aug. 18.
Non-resource exports gain momentum
More important, however, is the performance of non-resource and processed goods. Their exports reached $15.2 billion, up 17.6% year on year. This was almost six times faster than the 3% growth in imports of the same category.
Compared with January-June, non-resource and processed-goods exports have nearly doubled, reaching their highest level in the period covered by the available figures. This suggests that export growth is increasingly supported not only by traditional commodities but also by goods with greater processing and industrial value.
New markets strengthen
The geography of this growth is particularly notable. China remained Kazakhstan’s largest export market, receiving approximately $7.51 billion, or 18.6% of total exports. Italy followed with $6.98 billion, while Russia, Türkiye, the Netherlands, France and Uzbekistan were also among the leading destinations.
Türkiye stands out as one of the strongest growth markets. Total exports to Türkiye rose by 94.3%, while exports of non-resource and processed goods nearly doubled, from $950 million to $1.91 billion.
The United Kingdom also recorded rapid growth, with exports increasing 2.7 times to $671.8 million.
China remains a key market
Exports of non-resource and processed goods to China increased 12.1% to $3.67 billion. Together, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and China generated roughly $1.8 billion in additional exports compared with the first half of 2025. Uzbekistan, France, Afghanistan and Hong Kong also recorded significant growth.
The broader geography gives Kazakhstan greater access to Asian, European and regional markets and reduces reliance on any single destination.
Industrial goods drive growth
The commodity mix also points to expanding industrial potential. Copper and copper cathodes accounted for $2.84 billion, uranium for $1.51 billion and ferroalloys for $1.1 billion. Exports of copper and copper products increased by nearly 58%, while copper ores and concentrates rose roughly 43%.
The shift toward higher-value exports is also visible in agriculture. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin described Kazakhstan’s oilseed-processing industry as “a successful example of economic diversification,” noting that export revenue from oilseed products had quadrupled to $963 million in four years.
Agricultural products are gaining ground too. Sunflower oil exports reached $533 million, while animal feed products accounted for $438 million in January-June.
Metals, processed products and agricultural goods are gaining importance alongside established resource exports.
The next challenge: moving up the value chain
The next challenge is to turn export growth into lasting gains in higher-value products. This will depend on investment in processing, logistics, infrastructure and market access.
The key question is whether Kazakhstan can sustain growth in processed exports and expand into new markets. The first half of this year points to a shift toward more diverse and higher-value exports with a wider global reach.
