Kazakhstan's economy recorded a 3% year-on-year expansion in real gross domestic product during the January-March 2026 period, according to official data released by the Ministry of National Economy and reported by Qazinform News Agency. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov credited the positive trajectory to sustained momentum in the non-resource sector, which demonstrated notable resilience and competitiveness amid unfavorable external economic conditions that have weighed on other emerging markets.
Sectoral breakdown reveals a synchronized acceleration across multiple industries. The services economy grew by 3.7%, while the real sector—comprising goods-producing industries including manufacturing, mining, and utilities—expanded by 2.1%. Within this mix, construction posted the strongest gains at 14.8%, reflecting ongoing infrastructure projects and real estate development activity. Transport services followed at 12.8%, underscoring improved logistics capacity and freight movement across domestic and international corridors. Manufacturing growth of 8.5% rounds out the trio of high-performing segments, indicating robust demand for processed goods both domestically and in export markets.
Investment activity reinforces the domestic economy's upward trajectory. First Vice Minister of National Economy Azamat Amrin reported that total fixed capital investment reached 3.5 trillion tenge in Q1 2026, representing a 6.4% increase year-on-year. Zhambyl, Turkistan, and Ulytau regions emerged as the leading destinations for capital attraction, channeling funds primarily into electricity supply infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and agricultural modernization projects. This capital deployment signals continued confidence in Kazakhstan's industrial diversification agenda and its capacity to absorb investment at scale.
External trade dynamics further validate the macroeconomic upswing. For January-February 2026, Kazakhstan's total trade turnover stood at $21.7 billion, up 11.3% from the prior-year period. The trade balance surplus widened to $2.4 billion, reflecting improved competitiveness in export-oriented industries and favorable pricing dynamics for Kazakhstani commodities and manufactured goods. The combination of domestic investment growth and expanding trade volumes positions Kazakhstan to sustain its non-resource sector momentum through the remainder of 2026, with particular attention warranted on infrastructure-linked procurement opportunities in the construction, transport, and utilities subsectors across the identified high-investment regions.