ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s foreign trade entered a stronger phase in January-June, with exports growing faster than imports and non-resource and processed goods gaining ground in major international markets. The key question is whether this represents a temporary improvement in trade performance or a stronger shift in the structure and geography of Kazakhstan’s exports.
Photo credit: Kazakhstan Business Directory. In January-June, Kazakhstan’s exports reached $40.3 billion, up 8.6% compared to a year earlier, while imports increased 5.4% to $31.5 billion. Total foreign trade turnover rose 7.2% to $71.8 billion, producing a positive trade balance of around $8.9 billion.
Faster export growth matters because it shows external demand is driving trade expansion more than imports. Exports increased by approximately $3.2 billion compared with the first half of 2025, while the overall trade balance remained firmly positive, reported the Ministry of Trade and Integration on Aug.
18. More important, however, is the performance of non-resource and processed goods. Their exports reached $15.2 billion, up 17.6% year on year. This was almost six times faster than the 3% growth in imports of the same category. Compared with January-June, non-resource and processed-goods exports have nearly doubled, reaching their highest level in the period covered by the available figures.
This suggests that export growth is increasingly supported not only by traditional commodities but also by goods with greater processing and industrial value. The geography of this growth is particularly notable. China remained Kazakhstan’s largest export market, receiving approximately $7.51 billion, or 18.6% of total exports.
Italy followed with $6.98 billion, while Russia, Türkiye, the Netherlands, France and Uzbekistan were also among the leading destinations. Türkiye stands out as one of the strongest growth markets. Total exports to Türkiye rose by 94.3%, while exports of non-resource and processed goods nearly doubled, from $950 million to $1.91 billion.
The United Kingdom also recorded rapid growth, with exports increasing 2.7 times to $671.8 million. Exports of non-resource and processed goods to China increased 12.1% to $3.67 billion. Together, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and China generated roughly $1.8 billion in additional exports compared with the first half of 2025.
Uzbekistan, France, Afghanistan and Hong Kong also recorded significant growth. The broader geography gives Kazakhstan greater access to Asian, European and regional markets and reduces reliance on any single destination. The commodity mix also points to expanding industrial potential.
Copper and copper cathodes accounted for $2.84 billion, uranium for $1.51 billion and ferroalloys for $1.1 billion. Exports of copper and copper products increased by nearly 58%, while copper ores and concentrates rose roughly 43%.