Kazakhstan's export growth outpaces imports fourfold

Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover reached $103 billion in January–August 2026, up 12.8% year on year, the Ministry of Trade and Integration reported. Exports grew more than four times faster than imports. Exports totalled $60.4 billion, up 19.5%, while imports rose 4.5% to $42.6 billion, lifting the trade surplus to $17.8 billion from $9.8 billion a year earlier.

Agri-food exports led growth. Sunflower oil exports rose 48.5% to $672.8 million, wheat exports 26.5% to $1.25 billion, and flour exports 36% to $400 million. Copper and copper cathode exports rose 55.7% to $3.9 billion, and uranium exports rose 26.9% to $3.1 billion.

China remained Kazakhstan's largest trading partner, with $23.3 billion in turnover, or 22.7% of total trade. Russia followed with $18.3 billion and Italy with $11.8 billion. Italy was the largest buyer of Kazakh goods, at $10.9 billion.