Kazakhstan’s exports reach $40.3bn as surplus nears $9bn

Kazakhstan’s exports accelerated in the first half of 2026. Overseas shipments rose by 8.6%, outpacing imports, while the country’s positive trade balance approached $9 billion, DKNews.kz reports.

According to foreign trade data for January–June, Kazakhstan exported $40.3 billion worth of goods and imported $31.5 billion. Total foreign trade turnover reached $71.8 billion.

Exports added $3.2 billion in one year

In January–June 2025, Kazakhstan’s exports stood at $37.1 billion. Over the year, export revenues increased by around $3.2 billion.

Imports grew at a slower pace — by 5.4% to $31.5 billion. As a result, total foreign trade turnover increased by 7.2%.

The difference in growth rates had a direct impact on the trade balance: because exports expanded faster than imports, Kazakhstan maintained a foreign trade surplus of about $8.9 billion.

Exports to Türkiye nearly doubled

One of the sharpest increases was recorded in trade with Türkiye.

Kazakhstan’s exports to Türkiye rose by 94.3% in the first half of the year. Shipments reached $3.23 billion, meaning they almost doubled year on year.

Strong growth was also recorded in other markets. Exports to France increased by 45.2%, shipments to Uzbekistan by 39.5%, and exports to Germany by around 10%.

For Kazakhstan, this means export revenue is expanding simultaneously across European, Asian and Central Asian markets.

China becomes Kazakhstan’s largest individual export market

China remained the largest individual destination for Kazakhstani exports.

During the first six months of the year, Kazakhstan shipped approximately $7.51 billion worth of goods to China. This accounted for 18.6% of the country’s total exports.

Italy followed with $6.98 billion, Russia with $3.49 billion, Türkiye with $3.23 billion, the Netherlands with $2.6 billion, France with $2.32 billion and Uzbekistan with $2.14 billion.

The geography of the largest buyers shows that Kazakhstan’s export revenues are spread across several major markets, including China, Europe, Russia, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.

Copper exports rise by nearly 60%

Growth was driven not only by changes in export geography.

Exports of copper and copper products increased by around 58%, from $1.8 billion to $2.84 billion.

Exports of copper ores and concentrates rose by approximately 43%, from $1.44 billion to $2.05 billion.

This strengthens the contribution of the mining and metals industries to Kazakhstan’s export revenues. Oil and petroleum products, however, still account for a significant share of the country’s exports.

The increase in metals and ore shipments therefore points to a broader range of growing export flows rather than a full shift away from a commodity-based export structure.

Exports to Uzbekistan rise by almost 40%

Central Asia also showed strong momentum.

Kazakhstan’s exports to Uzbekistan increased by 39.5%, reaching $2.14 billion. This was one of the strongest growth rates among the country’s major export destinations.

At the same time, the near doubling of exports to Türkiye shows that Kazakhstan’s fastest-growing markets are not limited to neighboring countries.

The first half of 2026 produced three notable results at once: exports exceeded $40 billion, grew faster than imports, and pushed the foreign trade surplus close to $9 billion.

Earlier, we reported on the growth of cargo traffic between Kazakhstan and China and rising exports of Kazakhstani goods.