Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover reached $102.959 billion in January–August 2026, up 12.8% on the same period last year in nominal terms, the National Statistics Bureau of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms said on October 15. Interfax-Kazakhstan carried the same figure in its English and Russian services that day. Exports grew 19.5% to $60.389 billion and imports rose 4.5% to $42.570 billion, according to the bureau.
Crude still dominates what the country sells abroad. Oil and crude petroleum products made up 49.8% of exports, followed by refined copper and copper alloys at 6.4%, radioactive chemical elements at 5.1%, copper ores and concentrates at 4.4% and ferroalloys at 2.2%. Imports are spread more thinly: passenger cars account for 3.3%, telephone sets 2.7% and medicines 2.5%.
The partner ranking is where the numbers moved. On the bureau's preliminary figures, Italy took 18% of Kazakh exports in January–August and China 17.6%, ahead of Russia at 8.5% and Turkey at 7.9%. At the half-year mark the bureau had China in first place with 18.6%. On the import side Russia leads with 31%, China follows with 29.8% and Germany is third with 4.6%.
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A few caveats. The data are preliminary and the next release is scheduled for November 16, so revisions are possible. China's share appears only in the bureau's own release and tables; we found no separate media reporting on it, so it is attributed to the bureau here. The bureau did not publish absolute trade values with China this time, and we have not back-calculated them from percentages. Chinese customs figures for trade with Kazakhstan use a different methodology and should not be compared directly with Kazakh statistics.
Editor's view, not an official assessment: the change at the top of the export table is largely about where oil cargoes went and does not by itself signal weaker non-oil sales to China, while China's roughly 30% share of imports has held steady. The January–September release and commodity tables due in November should give a clearer picture.
Sources:
National Statistics Bureau (Russian), https://stat.gov.kz/ru/industries/economy/foreign-market/publications/352894/
Interfax-Kazakhstan (English), https://pif.interfax.kz/en/news/83188
Interfax-Kazakhstan (Russian), https://www.interfax.kz/ru/financial-and-economic-news/143371
Key facts
- Preliminary data from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan show that Kazakhstan’s total foreign trade in January–August amounted to USD 102.959 billion, an increase of 12.8% in nominal terms year on year.
- Kazakhstan’s exports in January–August totaled USD 60.389 billion, an increase of 19.5% year on year, while imports totaled USD 42.570 billion, an increase of 4.5%.
- According to preliminary data from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Italy accounted for 18% of exports and China for 17.6%, with China slipping to second place.
- According to preliminary data from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Russia accounted for 31% of imports and China for 29.8%, with China remaining the second-largest source of imports.
- Crude oil and related products accounted for 49.8% of Kazakhstan’s exports in January–August, indicating that exports remain highly dependent on raw materials.
- These foreign trade figures from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan are preliminary. The next release is scheduled for November 16, when the data may be revised.
FAQ
How much was Kazakhstan’s foreign trade in January–August?
Total foreign trade amounted to USD 102.959 billion, an increase of 12.8% in nominal terms year on year; exports totaled USD 60.389 billion and imports totaled USD 42.570 billion.
What were China’s share and ranking in Kazakhstan’s exports and imports?
According to preliminary data from the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, China accounted for 17.6% of exports, slipping to second place, and 29.8% of imports, remaining the second-largest source of imports. These figures currently appear only in the Bureau’s release and accompanying table, with no independent media coverage yet.
What are the characteristics of Kazakhstan’s export structure?
Kazakhstan’s exports remain highly dependent on raw materials. In January–August, crude oil and related products accounted for 49.8% of exports, while refined copper and copper alloys accounted for 6.4%.
When will this set of foreign trade data be updated?
The next release is scheduled for November 16, when the preliminary data may be revised. The original article recommends following the January–September data and the accompanying commodity table.
Can China Customs data on trade with Kazakhstan be directly compared with Kazakhstan’s statistics?
China Customs figures for trade with Kazakhstan are compiled on a different basis from Kazakhstan’s statistics and should not be compared directly.