By the end of last year, trade volume between Kazakhstan and China had increased by 30 percent. Kazakhstan sends oil, gas and metals to China, while importing clothing, machinery and cars. Mutual trade between the countries hit $31.5 billion in 2023, which is 30.4% more than in 2022.
The main share of bilateral trade between the countries is imports to Kazakhstan of $16.8 billion. At the same time, exports increased by 11.7% over 12 months to $14.7 billion. China takes 22.5% of Kazakhstan’s total trade with foreign countries: 27.4% of imports and 18.7% of exports.
Popular export categories include refined copper and unprocessed copper alloys, natural gas, precious and rare earth metals, as well as radioactive elements and ferroalloys. However, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture reports that in recent years the demand for organic and environmentally friendly agricultural products produced in Kazakhstan has increased among Chinese buyers — and the export of those products to China last year almost doubled, to $1.01 billion.
