26.10.2026 Trade & Markets #EAEU #Russia #China #Import #Export #Statistics
Russia 31%, China 29.8% of Kazakhstan's imports in January–August 2026
On 15 October 2026 Kazakhstan's Bureau of National Statistics released preliminary foreign trade data for January–August 2026. Russia remained the largest supplier of goods to the country with 31% of imports, and China ranked second with 29.8%. Kazakhstan's exports grew by 19.5% in nominal terms and imports by 4.5%.
Turnover, exports and imports over eight months
Foreign trade turnover reached USD 102,959.2 million, up 12.8% on January–August 2025. Exports came to USD 60,389 million and imports to USD 42,570.2 million (Bureau of National Statistics). By Inbusiness.kz's calculation, exports exceeded imports by about USD 17.8 billion.
How supplier shares have shifted
Over the eight months, Russia (31%) and China (29.8%) were followed in imports by Germany (4.6%), the US (3.9%), South Korea (2.5%) and Turkey (2.1%) (Bureau). For January–April 2026, Russia stood at 31.8%, China at 28.6%, Germany at 4.8%, the US at 4.4%, South Korea at 2.5% and Turkey at 2.2% (Forbes Kazakhstan).
According to TASS (reprinted by fomag.ru), the increase in imports from Russia came against the backdrop of a stronger tenge: the rate was about 6.5 tenge per rouble at the start of the year and about 5 tenge in summer.
Where Kazakh exports go and what the country buys
The largest shares in exports: Italy (18%), China (17.6%), Russia (8.5%), Turkey (7.9%), France (6.1%) and the Netherlands (5.9%) (Bureau). The export mix:
- crude oil and crude petroleum products — 49.8%;
- refined copper and unwrought copper alloys — 6.4%;
- radioactive chemical elements and isotopes — 5.1%;
- copper ores and concentrates — 4.4%;
- ferroalloys — 2.2%.
The largest import items: passenger cars and other motor vehicles at 3.3%, telephone sets at 2.7%, medicines at 2.5%, petroleum gases at 2.4%, and generating sets and rotary electric converters at 2.2%.
Trade within the EAEU: imports up 11.2%, exports down 0.2%
Kazakhstan's turnover with EAEU countries was USD 20,990.7 million (+7.3%). Exports to the union were USD 6,637.1 million (−0.2%) and imports from it USD 14,353.6 million (+11.2%). Within turnover with EAEU countries, Russia accounts for 87.3%, Kyrgyzstan for 8.3%, Belarus for 4% and Armenia for 0.4% (Bureau).
Tariff-code tables and next release date
The figures are preliminary. Alongside the preliminary release, the Bureau has posted goods-by-country and country-by-goods tables at 4, 6 and 10-digit EAEU nomenclature level for January–August, which provide data on individual product lines. The next release is scheduled for 16 November 2026 (publication page).
Primary sources
- Бюро национальной статистики АСПиР РК: Внешнеторговый оборот Республики Казахстан (январь-август 2026 г.), экспресс-информация
- Бюро национальной статистики АСПиР РК: страница публикации «Внешнеторговый оборот РК»
- ТАСС (перепечатка fomag.ru): РФ в январе-августе обеспечила 31% импорта Казахстана, сохранив статус основного партнера
- Inbusiness.kz: Экспорт Казахстана прибавил почти 20%
- Forbes Kazakhstan: Россия сохранила лидерство по экспорту товаров в Казахстан
This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.