In the first five months of 2026, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries surged by 28.9%, reaching a record $4.2 billion. Consequently, the region’s share in Kazakhstan’s total foreign trade rose to 7.4%. Positive dynamics were also maintained in the trade balance, with a surplus of $2.2 billion, TuraNews.kz reports, citing the Tradereport Telegram channel.
According to the report, Uzbekistan remains the primary trading partner in the region. Trade turnover between the two countries grew by 37.2%, reaching $2.3 billion. This accounts for more than half (55.5%) of Kazakhstan’s total trade in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan ($1 billion) and Tajikistan ($615 million) joined the top three partners, while trade with Turkmenistan stood at $215 million.
Wheat served as the main export driver during this period, with deliveries increasing by 72% to reach $639 million. Additionally, exports of sunflower oil, gold, steel products, and flour experienced significant growth.
Central Asia is increasingly becoming a key market for Kazakhstan’s non-resource exports. From January to May, neighboring countries accounted for 40% of the nation’s finished product exports and 33% of its semi-finished product exports. Nevertheless, experts note that wheat, metals, and primary processed goods still dominate the export structure.
