Trade between Kazakhstan and China continues to grow, reaching $43.8 billion in 2024, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. Kazakhstan’s exports to China amounted to $15.8 billion, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. These figures were announced by Han Chunlin, China’s newly appointed ambassador to Kazakhstan, during a meeting with Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev on February 8.
“This trend confirms our steady progress toward the ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade turnover in the near future,” the ambassador stated.
Strengthening Trade and E-Commerce Cooperation
The meeting focused on expanding Kazakh-Chinese trade and economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on e-commerce platforms.
Shakkaliyev highlighted that bilateral trade reached a historic high in 2024 and reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to diversifying its exports while expanding the range of products supplied to China. He also announced plans for trade and economic missions in 2025, alongside Kazakhstan’s participation in major exhibitions in China.
A key discussion point was the development of online trade through leading Chinese e-commerce platforms, including JD.com, Alibaba, and Douyin.
Kazakhstan’s Growing Presence in Chinese E-Commerce
- Alibaba: Launched in 2022, Kazakhstan’s dedicated section on Alibaba now includes 290 domestic companies offering over 7,500 products. Total sales on the platform have already surpassed $260 million.
- JD.com: In 2023, JD.com opened a Kazakhstan section, featuring over 60 products. Revenue from Kazakhstani goods sold on the platform grew from RMB 1 million in 2023 to RMB 1.3 million in 2024.
Kazakhstan’s e-commerce industry has seen rapid growth in recent years. According to the Ministry of Trade and Integration, online transactions from January to November 2024 totaled approximately 3.2 trillion KZT (over $6 billion), accounting for 14.5% of total retail trade.
As Kazakhstan strengthens its trade ties with China, digital commerce is expected to play an increasingly important role in bilateral economic relations.
