ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s economy grew 4.2% in the first nine months of 2026, supported by non-oil sectors, rising private investment and expanding industrial production, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said at a government meeting on Oct.
13. The non-resource sector grew 5.4%, while construction, manufacturing, transport services and trade accounted for more than 75% of overall gross domestic product (GDP) growth, according to Zhumangarin. The figures point to continued economic expansion beyond the extractive sector, although inflation remains elevated despite a slight slowdown in September.
Private investment drives economic growth Investment in fixed capital reached 16.1 trillion tenge (US$35.7 billion), increasing 7% year on year over the first nine months of 2026. “The distinctive feature is that private investment, which increased by 18.2%, is the main factor driving investment growth,” Zhumangarin said.
Gross foreign direct investment inflows reached $9.4 billion in the first half of the year. The strongest investment growth was recorded in manufacturing, up 40.1%, followed by construction at 32%, information and communications at 29.2%, healthcare at 20.4% and agriculture at 9.1%.
Kazakhstan’s economic structure has also continued to shift. The oil sector accounted for 7.8% of GDP in 2025, while manufacturing’s share rose to 14.1% and mining’s reached 12.4%, according to Zhumangarin. Manufacturing expands as new plants open Manufacturing output grew 8.6% in the first nine months of 2026, with particularly strong growth in light industry, which increased 62.4%.
Chemical production rose 23.4%, while machinery manufacturing grew 22.8%. Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Kuandyk Kazhkenov attributed the expansion largely to new production facilities. Since the beginning of the year, Kazakhstan has launched 106 industrial projects, creating approximately 8,000 permanent jobs.
“Thanks to the implementation of these projects, the country has established production of new goods that were not previously manufactured domestically. These include sodium sulfate, drip irrigation systems, laminate flooring, aluminum capsules for coffee machines and other products,” Kazhkenov said.