Export - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 44

Kazakhstan Develops AI System for Drilling Monitoring with Plans for Export

Kazakhstan has developed a domestically produced AI system for real-time monitoring of drilling operations and plans to promote it in international markets, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov has announced. Speaking at a government meeting on April 28 focused on integrating AI into the economy, Akkenzhenov announced the creation of an AI alliance under the Ministry of Energy. The alliance brings together technology companies, industry participants, and developers to coordinate the deployment of digital solutions, with a priority on local innovations. One of the alliance’s key initiatives is an intelligent drilling monitoring system currently undergoing pilot implementation. According to Akkenzhenov, the system covers more than 4,000 wells and analyzes production data in real time, identifying anomalies and forecasting output levels. The pilot project is being implemented at facilities operated by KazMunayGas and other subsoil users. The deployment is expected to reduce well downtime by up to 20% and generate an estimated economic benefit of around $2.2 million annually. “It is important that the system has been developed in Kazakhstan and has export potential. Work is currently underway to promote it in international markets, including the United States,” Akkenzhenov said. The minister added that AI is also being used to monitor the circulation of petroleum products. The system processes real-time data from oil refineries, storage facilities, the national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), and government agencies. This enables more accurate forecasting of fuel reserves and helps identify risks of shortages or excess supply. “The expected outcome is an increase in planning accuracy to 85% and savings of up to $48.4 million annually,” the minister said. The system was developed through cooperation between KazMunayGas and the Kazakh-British Technical University as part of the AI-Sana program aimed at strengthening AI capabilities. According to the ministry, the AI alliance has developed a portfolio of 45 projects, 10 of which are currently under evaluation and preparation for implementation. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had instructed the creation of a specialized artificial intelligence university in Kazakhstan.

Trade

Kyrgyzstan Prioritizes Export Support as External Trade Declines

Kyrgyzstan is intensifying efforts to support domestic exporters as the country faces a sustained decline in foreign trade. Authorities now regard export development as a central pillar of economic policy. First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiyev reiterated this position during a meeting of the Export Development Council on March 24. The government is considering a range of practical measures aimed at strengthening export capacity. Among them is a pilot programme to partially reimburse transportation and logistics costs. The initiative is intended to reduce the price of Kyrgyz goods in foreign markets and enhance their competitiveness. At the same time, officials plan to expand access to financing through a new preferential credit facility titled “Export Contract Financing.” The mechanism is designed to address exporters’ cash-flow constraints and support working capital, backed by insurance instruments and state guarantees. These steps come amid a significant deterioration in trade performance. According to the National Statistical Committee, Kyrgyzstan’s exports fell by 20.3% in January 2026, while imports increased by 6.1%. The decline reflects a broader trend. In 2025, exports dropped by 44.5%, while imports rose by 3.9%. Total foreign trade turnover reached $15.8 billion, representing a decrease of 10.2% compared to 2024. Kyrgyzstan’s export geography remains relatively concentrated. In 2025, the country’s main export destinations were Russia (22.9%), Kazakhstan (15.9%), Switzerland (15.4%), Uzbekistan (14.2%), and the United Kingdom (8.2%). Imports, meanwhile, were dominated by China (37.2%), followed by Russia (24.6%) and Kazakhstan (10.9%). Such concentration increases the economy’s vulnerability to fluctuations in demand among a limited number of trading partners. The sharp fall in exports was driven largely by declining gold shipments, Kyrgyzstan’s principal export commodity. According to the Ministry of Economy, gold exports fell by a factor of 3.7 in 2025. Gold accounted for 23.9% of total exports, underscoring the country’s dependence on a single commodity. Both external and domestic factors contributed to the downturn. Weaker demand in key partner markets, including Russia and Kazakhstan, reduced export volumes. At the same time, temporary government restrictions on the export of certain goods, such as scrap metal and livestock, also constrained trade flows.

Export

Kazakhstan Targets Top Three Global Rank in Sunflower Oil Exports by 2028

Kazakhstan is aiming to become one of the world’s top three exporters of sunflower oil and raise its total exports of oil and fat products to $1 billion by 2028, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration. Russia remains the global leader in sunflower oil exports, having shipped 4.4 million tons last year. In comparison, Kazakhstan achieved record results in 2025, exporting over 523,400 tons of sunflower oil between January and October, 2.4 times more than its domestic sales. These exports generated $532 million in revenue, placing Kazakhstan among the top ten sunflower oil exporters globally. To further increase output and climb into the top three, the government is shifting from fragmented support measures to a coordinated industry strategy, focused on building integrated export chains. The first meeting of the Export Headquarters for the Promotion of Non-Resource Exports in 2026 was held yesterday in Astana, chaired by Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Aidar Abildabekov. Officials discussed new strategies for expanding agricultural exports and overcoming systemic barriers faced by domestic producers in foreign markets. In 2025, a roadmap for the development of the oil and fat industry for 2026–2028 was finalized. It included an assessment of over 30 enterprises engaged in oilseed cultivation and processing in the northern, eastern, and southeastern regions, including the Abai, East Kazakhstan, Akmola, Zhetysu, and Almaty regions. The roadmap outlines concrete targets to improve processing capacity utilization, broaden export destinations, and position Kazakhstan among the top three global sunflower oil exporters by 2028. Key challenges addressed include rail cargo prioritization, phytosanitary and veterinary controls, registration of Kazakh firms in Chinese trade registries, reimbursement of export costs, and access to financial instruments for state support. Yadykar Ibragimov, a representative of the National Association of Oilseed Processors, emphasized that the roadmap provides a strategic foundation for industry growth. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan significantly increased its sunflower oil exports to Afghanistan as early as 2023.

Natural gas

Turkmenistan Halts Gas Exports to Turkey Amid Contract Talks

Turkmenistan has temporarily suspended natural gas exports to Turkey, according to an October 24 report by the Chronicles of Turkmenistan, which cited Maksat Babaev, chairman of the state concern Turkmengaz. Babaev made the announcement during a press conference following the Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2025 international conference. Gas deliveries began in March 2025 under a short-term contract for 2 billion cubic meters per year. The project was framed as a pilot initiative to assess technical and logistical challenges. Murad Archaev, Deputy Chairman of Turkmengaz, stated that the company is fully prepared to resume supplies. “The Turkish side was very pleased with the start of deliveries. We also support it, and once the existing issues are resolved, supplies will continue under the signed contract,” Archaev said, as quoted by MK Turkey. Babaev added that Turkmenistan has other potential buyers if an agreement on price or volume cannot be reached. “This is the market,” he said, according to Oilcapital, citing Reuters. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Turkey began importing Turkmen gas via Iran under a swap agreement, with deliveries totaling about 1.3 billion cubic meters by year-end. In May, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Ankara's intention to extend the deal for another five years. Meanwhile, Turkey’s Ministry of Energy said in October that it seeks to increase gas imports from Turkmenistan via the Caspian Sea. The ministry emphasized that the Turkish market could serve as a gateway for Turkmen gas to reach other countries, including European Union members. Earlier this year, both sides hailed the launch of deliveries as a milestone in regional energy cooperation.

Fishing Industry

New Kazakh Fish Processing Plant Exports Aral Fish to Europe

A new fish processing plant has opened in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region, signaling continued progress in efforts to revive the fishing industry in the Aral Sea basin, once the site of one of the world’s most devastating environmental disasters. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the facility, located in the Aral district, has the capacity to process up to 6,000 tons of fish annually. Outfitted with modern equipment, the plant focuses on producing environmentally sustainable fish products that comply with international quality and safety standards. Its primary export, pike perch fillets, is shipped to markets in Germany, Denmark, and Norway. Kazakhstan currently operates 72 fish processing plants, 20 of which are licensed to export to the European Union. The country’s fishing sector has been buoyed by ongoing efforts to restore the Northern Aral Sea. Formed in 1987 during the large-scale desiccation of the original Aral Sea, the northern section has been preserved and partially replenished following the construction of the Kokaral Dam. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported a record increase in the sea’s water volume. Rising water levels have expanded the surface area, reduced salinity, and facilitated the return of 22 fish species to the ecosystem. The annual catch in the Northern Aral now reaches approximately 8,000 tons, creating new economic opportunities for local communities. Kazakhstan’s fishing industry continues to show steady growth. In 2024, the country produced 94,600 tons of fish products, a 7% increase compared to 2023. Of this total, 45,200 tons came from natural water bodies, while 18,200 tons were farmed. In the same year, Kazakhstan exported 23,400 tons of fish products worth $74.7 million to 21 countries, reflecting rising global demand for sustainable fish from the Aral region.

Bilateral Cooperation

Cholpon-Ata to Host ‘Day of German Economy in Kyrgyzstan’

On August 26, Kyrgyzstan will host one of its most prominent international business events of the year, the Day of German Economy in Kyrgyzstan, alongside the 4th meeting of the Kyrgyz-German Business Council. The events are organized by the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the agency, the forum will take place at two venues in the resort city of Cholpon-Ata: the Rukh Ordo Cultural Center and the No. 2 State Residence of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. The event is expected to bring together high-level participants, including government officials, business leaders, industry associations, and investors from both Germany and Kyrgyzstan. Welcoming remarks will be delivered by Adylbek Kasymaliyev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, and Professor Reinhold Krämmel, Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan in Munich and Deputy Co-Chairman of the Kyrgyz-German Business Council. The forum will feature two thematic panel sessions: "Energy Projects for German-Kyrgyz Economic Cooperation" - focusing on opportunities in green energy and infrastructure development. "Export Potential and Logistics in the Transition Period: Opportunities of the Middle Corridor" - examining evolving trade routes and modern logistical challenges. In addition, Kasymaliyev will attend the meeting of the Kyrgyz-German Business Council. Discussions will center on the theme: “Kyrgyz-German Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation: Finance as an Integral Part of the Partnership.” The primary aim of the event is to deepen economic dialogue, enhance trade and investment relations, and strengthen the strategic partnership between Kyrgyzstan and Germany.