Exports - The Times Of Central Asia

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Coal

Kyrgyzstan Government Temporarily Bans Road Coal Exports as Shipments to China Surge

On December 3, the government of Kyrgyzstan imposed a six-month ban on the export of coal by road transport. The restriction aims to stabilize the domestic market amid rising demand and does not apply to shipments passing through the Irkeshtam and Torugart checkpoints on the border with China. Despite its environmental impact, coal remains a critical fuel source for winter heating in Kyrgyzstan, which continues to face chronic electricity shortages. In an effort to curb domestic price increases, the government introduced temporary state regulation of coal prices in September, effective for 90 days. While domestic needs remain high, coal is also a key export commodity. China has emerged as a growing destination for Kyrgyz coal, with exports reaching 11,600 tons in September 2025, the highest monthly volume recorded this year, according to China’s General Administration of Customs. Data from the National Statistics Committee of Kyrgyzstan shows that in 2024, the country exported 1.1 million tons of coal worth $52.7 million. Uzbekistan remained the largest buyer, importing 996,600 tons. However, exports to China surged to 118,200 tons, up from just 13,000 tons in 2023. In late November, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev visited the Torugart border checkpoint and the newly opened Torugart-1 coal mine, which began operations on November 12. Kyrgyzkomur OJSC, the national coal company, holds the exploration license for a 557.6-hectare section of the deposit in the At-Bashy District of Naryn Province. Total reserves are estimated at 423,400 tons. Kasymaliev instructed officials to ensure stable operations at the site and to initiate coal exports from the Torugart-1 mine as soon as possible.

Exports

Kazakhstan Boosts Animal Feed Exports to China

Kazakhstan has significantly increased its exports of compound animal feed to China, even as shipments of unprocessed grain have declined, according to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway operator. The shift in export dynamics is attributed to China’s record 700-million-ton grain harvest in 2025. In response to domestic supply, the Chinese authorities have tightened grain import regulations and introduced customs restrictions. As a result, Kazakhstan’s grain export structure has shifted toward processed goods with higher added value, most notably, compound animal feed. Animal feed is in high demand within China’s livestock sector and receives priority clearance at border checkpoints. This preferential treatment has contributed to a notable surge in Kazakh feed exports. During the first two months of the current marketing year (September-October 2025), KTZ transported 873,000 tons of grain for export, including 672,000 tons of animal feed, a 3.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year. Overall grain exports to China, however, rose 35% year-on-year to 3.5 million tons between January and October 2025, reflecting a shift toward higher-value processed goods rather than bulk grain. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan continues to export most of its grain to countries across Central Asia and the Caucasus, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan.

Exports

Kazakhstan’s Cement Exports to Uzbekistan Plunge Amid Customs Dispute

Cement exports from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan have fallen sharply in recent months, with industry officials blaming a sudden change in Uzbek customs policy. According to Yerbol Akimbayev, head of the Cement and Concrete Producers Association of Kazakhstan (QazCem), new customs rules imposed by Tashkent are significantly disrupting cross-border trade. Speaking to Forbes Kazakhstan, Akimbayev said Uzbek authorities now require Kazakh cement imports to be declared at $300 per ton, ten times the actual sale price of roughly $30 per ton. “Taxes should reflect the real import price. Setting the customs declaration at $300 has made exports economically unfeasible,” he stated. The new pricing rule comes at a difficult time for Kazakhstan’s cement industry, which is already grappling with overcapacity and shrinking export opportunities. The country currently operates 16 cement plants with a combined annual capacity of 18 million tons, while domestic demand has stagnated between 11.5 and 12 million tons over the past five years. Even with demand growing by 15-20% this year, roughly 2 million tons, production still far exceeds consumption. “Operating plants can already produce 17 million tons, and our technical capacity is around 18.5 million tons,” Akimbayev explained. “With new facilities under construction, we could soon reach 22 million tons. That leaves us with about 6 million tons in excess capacity, exports are essential for industry viability.” While Russia remains Kazakhstan’s top cement supplier, followed by Iran, Uzbekistan has become an increasingly important export market in recent years. However, Akimbayev argues that the recent policy shift undermines fair competition and could destabilize the regional cement market. “This isn’t about competition, it’s about clear and objective rules,” he said. “Our producers meet strict quality and safety standards. It’s only fair that importers face similar conditions. When we addressed this imbalance in 2019, the number of import certificates issued dropped by 95%, exposing the scale of shadow trade.” The impact is already being felt across Kazakhstan’s cement sector. A plant in the Kostanay region declared bankruptcy earlier this year, and another in the Akmola region is facing financial strain. At the same time, three new factories are under construction, adding further pressure to an oversupplied market. “Foreign investment is welcome, but it should target sectors that align with the country’s actual needs, like data centers or airports, not industries already in crisis,” Akimbayev warned. Industry leaders in Kazakhstan are urging both governments to resolve the dispute and reestablish stable trade conditions for cement exports.

Meat Market

China Opens Market to Kazakhstan Pork Exports

Kazakhstan has secured approval to begin exporting pork to China following the signing of a bilateral protocol on inspection, quarantine, and food safety standards. The agreement was formalized on October 15 in Shanghai by Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Sun Meijun, Head of the General Administration of Customs of China. This marks the first time Kazakh pork producers have been granted access to the Chinese market. The agreement allows for the export of frozen, chilled, thermally processed pork products, and offal, signaling a major milestone for Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. During the Shanghai meeting, the two officials also discussed expanding access for other Kazakh agricultural goods. Saparov highlighted Kazakhstan’s commitment to meeting China’s stringent food safety and quality standards. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, bilateral agricultural trade reached $992.3 million in the first seven months of 2025, a 28 percent increase on the same period in 2024. For comparison, total trade in 2024 amounted to $1.4 billion. This protocol follows a similar agreement signed in May 2025 that opened the Chinese market to Kazakh poultry exports. Currently, more than 2,800 Kazakh enterprises are registered with China’s General Administration of Customs and authorized to export goods to the country. On October 15, Kazakhstan’s Food Contract Corporation signed a memorandum of cooperation in Shanghai with China’s Shandong Hi-Speed Qilu Eurasia Railway Express Co. Ltd. The agreement aims to expand Kazakh exports of grain, animal feed, and oilseeds through a contract farming model, under which Chinese firms purchase future harvests from Kazakh producers at the sowing stage. Minister Saparov noted that Kazakhstan has the capacity to export 3-4 million tons of grain and feed flour to China annually. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, a new joint Kazakh-Chinese veterinary laboratory was recently launched in East Kazakhstan. The facility is intended to streamline agricultural export procedures and accelerate inspections for goods entering the Chinese market.

Trade

Kyrgyz-Chinese Trade and Economic Cooperation Center Opens in Chongqing

A new Kyrgyz-Chinese Trade and Economic Cooperation Center has officially opened in Chongqing, one of southwest China’s largest industrial and transportation hubs. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the 300-square-meter facility will serve as a platform for bilateral business cooperation. Kyrgyz entrepreneurs will be able to register their companies and conduct business activities in China free of charge. Also on September 26, Chongqing hosted the opening of Kyrgyzstan’s Trade Pavilion, which will showcase and sell national products such as honey, alcoholic beverages, confectionery, and handicrafts. China remains one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important trade partners, with an increasing share of transactions now carried out in Chinese yuan. Earlier this year, Kyrgyzstan’s state-owned Eldik Bank became the first bank in Central Asia to join China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). The system enables direct and instant settlements in yuan with Chinese partners and other participants, bypassing intermediaries and reducing transaction costs. Eldik Bank officials said the move would expand business opportunities and deepen bilateral economic ties. Trade between Kyrgyzstan and China surged by 44.7% in 2024, reaching $5.3 billion, according to Kyrgyz government statistics. Exports from Kyrgyzstan to China grew dramatically to $2.04 billion, 93 times higher than in 2023. China also remained Kyrgyzstan’s largest foreign investor, accounting for 23.9% of total foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, valued at $872.6 million.

Exports

Tajikistan Revises Export Duties to Boost Domestic Processing

The government of Tajikistan has approved revised export duties on raw materials and semi-processed goods, a move that has prompted considerable discussion within the business community. The changes, which directly affect exporters and producers, are intended to stimulate domestic processing and reduce the export of unrefined resources. The key reform replaces fixed tariffs with duties calculated as a percentage of a product’s market value. Previously, export duties were set at: €300 per ton for leather 20% or €100 per ton for silk and cocoons 10% for cotton fiber Under the new rules, export duties fluctuate with global market prices, allowing for more adaptive regulation. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the reform is designed to promote higher-value production within Tajikistan. “The goal of this resolution is to reduce the export of raw materials and support the production of high-value goods,” said First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Ashurboy Solekhzoda. The revised duties apply to a range of commodities including cotton fiber, leather, silk, cocoons, minerals, concentrates, plant juices, and other semi-processed goods. However, around 34 categories of raw materials remain exempt from export duties. Tajikistan’s approach mirrors policies implemented in neighboring states. Kazakhstan imposes export duties on 44 product categories, including leather, wool, scrap metal, sunflower seeds, and oil. In Uzbekistan, export duties apply to over 86 types of goods, with some rates reaching as high as 100%. Such measures aim to reduce reliance on raw material exports, stimulate domestic value-added industries, and enhance export competitiveness. Economists and industry observers say the new policy could incentivize companies to expand local processing operations and reduce dependence on commodity exports. It may also enhance Tajikistan’s attractiveness to foreign investors interested in long-term, value-driven partnerships. Over time, the revised export framework is expected to help strengthen the national economy and integrate Tajikistan more deeply into regional supply chains across Central Asia.