Kazakhstan Exporters Assess EU Carbon Border Rules at QazTrade Webinar
Kazakhstan’s exporters examined the implications of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) during a Sept. 25 webinar hosted by QazTrade, the Ministry of Trade and Integration, and the International Trade Center. The event, held under the EU-funded Ready4Trade Central Asia project, focused on compliance challenges and trade risks for aluminum and other key industries.
According to the European Commission, Kazakhstan’s exports to the EU remain heavily concentrated in CBAM-sensitive categories. In 2024, fuels and mineral products accounted for €31.8 billion (US$37.3 billion)—over 95% of supplies and most vulnerable to EU climate rules. Non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, totaled €410 million (US$481.6 million), but exports dropped nearly 40%. Iron and steel stood at €204 million (US$239.6 million), down 27.1%, while chemical products increased 26.5% to €667 million (US$783.4 million), though also subject to potential regulation. Other semi-manufactures and machinery showed declines of 38.5% and 11.5% respectively.
Opening the webinar, QazTrade Deputy Director General Nurlan Kulbatyrov underscored the urgency of adapting to CBAM, noting that while the rules pose challenges, they may also drive modernization and strengthen Kazakhstan’s reliability as an EU supplier. The EU remains Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, accounting for 37% of total exports in 2024.
The most CBAM-sensitive sectors are aluminum, fertilizers, and iron. Aluminum exports reached $662 million in 2024, with more than $225 million directed to EU markets. Fertilizer exports to the EU stood at $40 million, or 17% of the total, while 6.2% of iron exports were shipped to the bloc.
The event brought together representatives from major industrial players such as Qarmet JSC and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), as well as government agencies including the Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources, Industry and Construction, and the State Revenue Committee.
In preparation, QazTrade and the OECD developed a Guide on Best Practices for Exporters in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, providing recommendations on CBAM compliance, low-carbon technologies, and energy efficiency.
Photo credit: qaztradae.kz
