Kazakhstan’s Key Trade Allies: China, Russia, and Italy in 2024
Kazakhstan’s Trade Dynamics: A Focus on Key Partnerships
ASTANA – In a noteworthy report released on May 6, the Trade and Integration Ministry highlighted that China, Russia, and Italy were instrumental in driving Kazakhstan’s foreign trade in 2024, with these countries accounting for the largest portions of both exports and imports.
Kazakhstan’s total export revenue for the year surpassed $81 billion. A staggering $42.9 billion, or 52.5% of total exports, came solely from crude oil. This significant output underscores the kingdom’s reliance on energy resources as a primary economic driver.
Beyond oil, Kazakhstan showcased its diverse export portfolio, which prominently included uranium, valued at $4.6 billion, alongside copper and copper cathodes at $4.1 billion, and copper ores and concentrates at $3.2 billion. The market’s appetite for ferroalloys, natural gas, wheat, and various petroleum products also remained robust.
On the import side, there was a marked increase in the acquisition of technology, transport equipment, and pharmaceuticals. The leading import categories included passenger cars, valued at $2.3 billion, aircraft at $1.8 billion, and pharmaceuticals at $1.7 billion, alongside a significant demand for telecommunications equipment.
Kazakhstan is progressively embedding itself within global production chains, sourcing finished goods and essential components, such as car bodies, spare parts, and computing devices, to enhance its domestic capabilities.
The trends observed at the beginning of 2025 fortify the ongoing trajectory in Kazakhstan’s trade landscape. In January, exports reached $4.5 billion, predominantly driven by oil, which constituted 60% of this total. Other notable exports included copper, ferroalloys, wheat, uranium, natural gas, and sunflower oil.
Imports during the same period exceeded $2.8 billion, with key categories comprising telephones, car bodies, pharmaceuticals, and passenger vehicles. There was also a notable uptick in the supply of construction equipment and engines, further demonstrating Kazakhstan’s expanding trade dynamics.
Kazakhstan’s strategic partnerships and diversified trade portfolio position it well for continued economic resilience and growth in the evolving global market.
