Main article: Economy of Kazakhstan
Trade between Russia and Kazakhstan
Main article: Trade between Russia and Kazakhstan
Chronicle
2024
The volume of supplies of goods from Russia to Kazakhstan increased by 8.3% to $18.2 billion
The volume of supplies from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2024 amounted to $18.2 billion, which is 8.3% more than in 2023. According to the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, published in February 2025, Russia became the largest importer to the country, ahead of other trading partners. The growth of indicators is associated with the expansion of commodity groups and the strengthening of economic ties between states.
According to Lsm.kz, the volume of Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover in 2024 reached $141.4 billion, which is 1.3% less than in 2023. The decrease is due to fluctuations in commodity prices and a change in the structure of export-import operations. Despite the decline in overall trade, the country continues to maintain a stable position in international trade.
The largest importers to Kazakhstan in 2024:
- Russia - $18.2 billion (+ 8.3%).
- China - $15.1 billion (-1.5%).
- Germany - $2.8 billion (-6.5%).
- US - $2.2 billion (-11.8%).
- South Korea - $1.9 billion (-13.6%).
- France - $1.8 billion (+ 43.5%).
Main categories of imported goods:
- Cars - 3.8%
- Aircraft - 3%
- Medicines - 2.8%
- Smartphones and phones - 2.7%
- Bodies and spare parts for transport - 2.3%
The total volume of imports to Kazakhstan amounted to $59.7 billion, which is 1% less than in 2023. The share of imports in the country's foreign trade turnover reached 42.2%.
Exports from Kazakhstan in 2024 grew by 3.1% and reached $81.6 billion, amounting to 57.8% of the total foreign trade turnover. Russia ranked third among the recipient countries of Kazakhstani exports with a volume of $9.5 billion, showing a decrease of 6.4%.
Kazakhstan's export structure is dominated by crude oil and oil products (52.5%), uranium (5.6%), refined copper (5.1%), copper ores and concentrates (3.9%), ferroalloys (3%).[1]
The trade turnover of Kazakhstan and China for the year increased to $43.8 billion. What countries trade
Trade turnover of Kazakhstan and China in 2024 increased by 9% to $43.8 billion. This information was announced at the end of January 2025 during the talks of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin. Read more here.
Sharp rise in imports from China
Continuation of high imports of cars from the EU for their re-export to Russia
2023
Growth of Kazakhstan's IT exports by 57% to $529 million
According to the results of 2023, Kazakhstan's IT exports reached $529 million. This is 57% more than in the previous year, when sales of computer services abroad amounted to $337 million. Such data are given in the materials of the National Bank of the Republic, which TAdviser got acquainted with in mid-August 2024.
It is said that the export of IT services of Kazakhstan in the first half of 2023 amounted to $247.3 million, having increased 2.2 times compared to January-June 2022 ($110.5 million). In the second half of 2023, sales of computer services abroad exceeded $281 million. The main destinations for IT exports are the United States (8.71%), the United Arab Emirates (3.67%), Cyprus (2.65%), the Netherlands (1.51%), the Russian Federation (1.72%), the United Kingdom (1.09%), Germany (1.02%), Spain (1.54%), Ireland (8.64%), Canada (0.19%).
The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan notes that the country's IT exports are showing rapid growth. So, in 2020, its volume was about $30 million, in 2021 it rose to $60.07 million, and in 2022 it was at the level of 337 million. According to Mussin, between 2020 and 2023, IT exports grew almost 20 times. Salt high dynamics, as noted, contributes to the growth of the country's economy.
Most of the sales of computer services abroad are accounted for by Astana Hub residents, who make up about 60% of the IT market in Kazakhstan. In 2023, they provided exports worth $315 million. And in the period from 2018 to 2023, residents of the leading Kazakh technopark exported their services for $630.9 million. In 2023, 394 technopark residents exported their products and services to 86 countries: the largest markets were the United States ($111.7 million), Russia ($34.5 million) and Ireland ($30.3 million). These countries accounted for more than half of the total export of the technopark.
It is said that the range of services offered by Kazakh IT companies covers a variety of areas: from software development to game creation and data analysis. The leaders in the volume of exported services were service companies engaged in software development. In particular, 189 Astana Hub residents provided services for the development of IT solutions for $228.2 million. The remaining 205 companies exported products worth $83.6 million, covering areas such as SaaS (software as a service), game creation, etc.
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set the task of bringing the export of IT services to $1 billion by 2026 and making the country a center of attraction for digital nomads. To achieve this goal, various initiatives are being implemented. In particular, IT schools are opening in which everyone can get a high-quality education in the field of programming. The Tech Orda project, initiated by the president, aims to train 20,000 IT professionals by 2025. This project provides educational grants for education in IT schools; it is planned to provide 3 thousand vouchers for training at such sites of citizens aged 18 to 45 years. As of mid-2024, applications from students are accepted by 77 accredited IT schools. The Ministry of Digital Development also notes that Kazakhstan focuses on digital diplomacy, promoting its IT products and services in the international market. In addition, the Astana Hub experience in the regions is being scaled. By the end of 2023, 12 regional sites have been opened and are functioning (Semey, Kyzylorda, Taraz, Taldykorgan, Turkestan, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Uralsk, Aktobe, Karaganda, Kostanay, Kokshetau, Pavlodar).[2]
Foreign Trade Results
The first two places in trade with Kazakhstan are shared by Russia and Kazakhstan. For more details, see Trade between Russia and Kazakhstan
The third place in the ranking of the main trading partners of Kazakhstan is occupied by Italy with an indicator of $16.1 billion and an increase of 8% on an annualized basis.
Next come South Korea and Turkey: the indicator of each of these countries is about $6 billion. At the same time, a drop in trade turnover was recorded by 1.6% and 4.8%, respectively, compared to 2022. In fifth place are the Netherlands, whose trade with Kazakhstan in 2023 decreased by 24% - to $4.4 billion.
In
 | The main markets for Kazakhstani goods are China, Russia and Italy. China has become the main trading partner of Kazakhstan, the published document says. |  |
The total turnover of Kazakhstan, according to QazTrade estimates, in 2023 reached $139.8 billion, an increase of 3.2% compared to the previous year. Exports were at around $78.7 billion (minus 7% year-on-year), imports - $61.1 billion (plus 20.1%).
The study also notes that Kazakhstan has increased non-resource exports to Asian countries: China (plus 10%), Hong Kong (plus 34%), South Korea (plus 30%) and Vietnam (plus 64%). The share of Kazakhstan's exports from trade is 56.3%, and the share of processed goods in the total export volume is 32.1%. In 2023, the number of commodity markets increased - from 131 to 135 states.[3]
Record volume of imports from China
China's exports to Kazakhstan reached a new all-time high in December 2023.
7th in the world in terms of wheat exports
2022
China is the largest export destination
Growth in trade with the United States and the EU due to circumvention of sanctions against the Russian Federation
The rapid growth of trade flows USA EU with neighbors Russia may be a sign that sanctions can be avoided, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development believes.
German exports to Russia from May to July 2022 fell 38% compared to the average for the same period in 2017-2019. However, it almost doubled to Armenia and more than tripled to Kyrgyzstan - a trend also seen in trade flows to the Caucasus and Central Asia from the US, Britain and EU countries.
Kazakhstan sharply increased coal supplies to the EU
In January-May 2022, Kazakhstan supplied 1.5 million tons of coal to the European Union - almost twice as much as in the entire 2021. The increase was against the background of sanctions on supplies from Russia.
2020
Kazakhstan - in the top ten largest exporters of wheat with an indicator of 5.2 million tons
Major Trading Partners
2018: Wheat exports
Notes
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