Kazakhstan’s Exports Rise 19.5% as Trade Surplus Expands to $17.8 Billion
Kazakhstan’s exports increased by 19.5% year on year to $60.4 billion in January–August 2026, while imports grew by 4.5% to $42.6 billion. As a result, the country’s trade surplus reached $17.8 billion, compared with $9.8 billion in the same period last year, according to QazTrade, the Trade Policy Development Center.
Total foreign trade turnover amounted to $103 billion, up 12.8% year on year. China remained Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $23.3 billion, or 22.7% of total turnover. Russia ranked second at $18.3 billion, followed by Italy at $11.8 billion. Together, the three countries accounted for 51.9% of Kazakhstan’s foreign trade.
Türkiye recorded $5.7 billion in trade turnover with Kazakhstan, followed by France at $4.5 billion. Trade with the Netherlands and Uzbekistan reached $3.8 billion each, while Germany accounted for $2.9 billion, the United States for $2.7 billion and Spain for $2 billion.
Italy was Kazakhstan’s largest export destination, with shipments totaling $10.9 billion, followed by China at $10.7 billion. Russia remained the country’s leading import supplier, accounting for $13.2 billion in imports.
Agricultural exports recorded substantial growth during the reporting period. Sunflower oil exports increased by 48.5% to $672.8 million, while shipment volumes rose by 35.9% to 611,400 tons. Wheat exports grew by 26.5% to $1.25 billion, with volumes increasing by 13.8% to more than 5.5 million tons. Exports of wheat and wheat-rye flour rose by 36% to $400 million, while flaxseed exports increased 2.3 times to $387.8 million.
Exports of prepared animal feed products grew by 60.8% to $577.6 million. Combined exports of sunflower oil, flour and prepared animal feed products reached $1.65 billion, representing an increase of approximately 48% year on year.
Metals and mining products also contributed to export growth. Copper and copper cathode exports rose by 55.7% to $3.9 billion, while uranium exports increased by 26.9% to $3.1 billion.
Meanwhile, imports of selected industrial and energy equipment increased. Purchases of electric generating sets rose by 86.5% to $916.5 million, while imports of turbojet and turboprop engines, including gas turbines, increased 3.3 times to $611 million.
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