International trade - The Times Of Central Asia

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Transport and Logistics

Kazakhstan to Build New International Cargo Airport Near China Border

Kazakhstan plans to construct a new international cargo and passenger airport in the Zhetysu region, near the Chinese border, as part of efforts to develop a major multimodal aviation and logistics hub along key transit routes linking China, Central Asia, and Europe. The facility will be located within the Khorgos–Eastern Gate Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a strategic logistics cluster on the New Silk Road. According to Dias Esdauletov, Deputy Akim of the region, the project is one of the most significant and promising investment initiatives currently underway and aims to establish Kazakhstan as a central player in Eurasian trade. The project is being developed by the Kazakh-German joint venture Skyhansa LLP and is coordinated by the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The airport is designed to complement the existing railway and road infrastructure in the SEZ, enabling faster movement of high-value and time-sensitive cargo, and bolstering regional passenger transport and tourism. Once completed, it will integrate rail, road, and air links in a single multimodal logistics system. Construction will be carried out in three stages. The first stage, set for completion by mid-2027, will include the development of core airfield infrastructure, a cargo terminal, a fuel complex, an aviation technical center, and a business center with hotel facilities. It will also integrate the airport with the SEZ’s existing rail and road networks. The second stage will expand the cargo and passenger infrastructure, build additional logistics and storage areas, increase refueling capacity, and attract airline and logistics partners. In the third stage, the airport is expected to evolve into a full-fledged international aviation hub with an expanded route network, full-service and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) operations, and deep integration with the SEZ’s industrial and commercial zones. Esdauletov highlighted the importance of the Air-Rail-Auto-Air transport model for improving logistics efficiency, particularly for sectors such as e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Seamless transitions between transport modes can dramatically reduce door-to-door delivery times and costs. Kazakhstan has already demonstrated the viability of such multimodal solutions. In 2014, KTZ Express piloted a successful international cargo transit from China to Europe via a rail-air corridor. HP products were shipped from Chongqing to Almaty by rail and then flown to Amsterdam, completing the 9,900 km journey in just seven days. The new airport is expected to ease congestion in the Almaty transport hub and significantly improve cargo throughput capacity in southeastern Kazakhstan. In the medium and long term, authorities anticipate strong growth in both cargo and passenger volumes, driven by increasing transit flows between China, Central Asia, Europe, and the United States, as well as ongoing shifts in global logistics routes. To mitigate risks, the regional government has launched comprehensive preparatory work. Skyhansa has already secured 800 hectares of land within the Khorgos-Eastern Gate SEZ. The project is expected to create approximately 700 jobs.

U.S.-Kazakhstan Relations

Kazakhstan Strengthens Role as U.S. Key Trade Partner in Central Asia

Kazakhstan has emerged as the United States’ primary economic partner in Central Asia, accounting for the vast majority of regional exports to the U.S. and serving as the leading destination for American imports, according to Finprom.kz. While Central Asia’s share of total U.S. trade remains small, Kazakhstan’s role within the region is increasingly dominant. Kazakhstan Accounts for Over 96% of Central Asia’s U.S. Exports In 2024, Kazakhstan was responsible for 96.7% of Central Asia’s exports to the United States, totaling approximately $2.4 billion out of a regional total of $2.5 billion. Uzbekistan, the next largest exporter, contributed just $44.4 million. The trend is similar for U.S. goods entering the region. Kazakhstan imported $1.1 billion worth of U.S. goods in 2024, or 62.3% of all American exports to Central Asia. Uzbekistan followed with $380.8 million, while Turkmenistan and Tajikistan imported $82.2 million and $56.8 million, respectively. Despite this strong bilateral exchange, Central Asia remains a small player in U.S. global trade. In 2024, the U.S. recorded $3.27 trillion in goods imports and $2.06 trillion in exports, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Even so, U.S.–Kazakhstan trade has grown meaningfully in recent years. Between 2019 and 2024, the U.S. share of Kazakhstan’s total trade rose from 2.3% to around 3%. Bilateral trade peaked in 2024 at $4.2 billion, the highest level in six years, with U.S. exports to Kazakhstan accounting for 53.2% of the total. Trade Growth and 2025 Downturn That growth slowed sharply in 2025. From January to August, total trade between the two countries fell to $2.1 billion, a 25.8% drop compared to the same period in 2024. Kazakhstan’s exports to the U.S. accounted for much of the decline, falling to $749.7 million in the first nine months of the year - about half the level recorded the previous year. Oil and oil products saw the steepest drop, falling 3.5 times to $269.1 million. Exports of uranium, silver, ferroalloys, tantalum, and titanium also declined, though these remain important categories. By contrast, U.S. exports to Kazakhstan remained relatively stable. Goods shipments fell just 4.8% year-on-year, totaling approximately $1.7 billion from January through September. U.S. exports to Kazakhstan continue to consist primarily of high-value manufactured goods, including vehicles, aircraft, agricultural machinery, computers, telecommunications equipment, and medical devices. Pharmaceuticals stood out in 2025, with American shipments of medicines and vaccines more than doubling to $249.3 million in the first nine months of the year. Investment and Business Cooperation Deepen Alongside trade, investment, and business cooperation between the two countries is also deepening. According to the Kazakh Prime Minister’s office, more than 600 companies with U.S. capital were operating in the country as of late 2025 – a large increase over the previous year. The number of Kazakh-American joint ventures rose by 5.6% over the same period. U.S. companies are active in a range of sectors, including IT, manufacturing, education, consulting, and trade. While the United States is not among Kazakhstan’s top trading partners by volume, the relationship is seen as strategically important. Amid...

SCO Summit

Uzbekistan President Urges SCO Reform and Regional Unity in Tianjin

On September 1, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held in Tianjin, China, according to the presidential press service. The summit brought together leaders of member states to discuss the future of the organization, regional stability, and responses to global challenges. Opening the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Uzbekistan on its Independence Day and commended the country’s progress under Mirziyoyev’s leadership. In his address, Mirziyoyev stressed the need for the SCO to adapt to a world marked by growing geopolitical tensions, a crisis of trust, and the weakening of multilateral institutions. He stressed that closer solidarity among SCO members is crucial for ensuring peace and stability in the region. Among his key proposals was the adoption of a declaration on multilateral partnership for nuclear security. The initiative is intended to enhance cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and support global non-proliferation efforts within the UN framework. Mirziyoyev also called for the resumption of interior minister-level meetings within the SCO, revisions to the existing agreement on combating organized crime, and the drafting of a new program to fight drug addiction, with targets extending to 2030. On Afghanistan, he proposed reviving the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group to promote dialogue and launch socio-economic initiatives aimed at stabilizing the country. On economic cooperation, Mirziyoyev urged SCO member states to sign an agreement simplifying trade procedures and to develop new financial mechanisms to support industrial and infrastructure projects. He proposed the creation of a regional center for critical raw materials, a unified energy consortium, a network of venture capital funds for start-up development, and a digital portal to promote cross-border investment and connect businesses across the SCO space. Transport and connectivity featured prominently in his speech. Mirziyoyev advocated for the establishment of a “common transport space” and strengthening of the North-South and East-West corridors linking Central Asia with the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean regions. He also called for the launch of regional platforms dedicated to climate adaptation and green technology development, alongside new initiatives in culture, education, and tourism to deepen people-to-people ties across the SCO.

Trump Tariffs

Trump’s 100% Tariffs May Target Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a new wave of sanctions against Russia, including the potential imposition of 100% tariffs on its trading partners, which could affect Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other former Soviet states. Who Could Be Affected? On July 15, President Trump announced an escalation in U.S. arms deliveries to Ukraine and warned of intensified sanctions against Russia. If no progress is made in resolving the conflict within 50 days, the U.S. will implement additional measures, including secondary tariffs of up to 100% on countries trading with Russia. Experts warn that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan may be particularly vulnerable. Although not among Russia’s largest trading partners, these countries maintain extensive commercial ties with Moscow. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), China, India, and Turkey accounted for 74 percent of Russia's fossil fuel revenue in 2024. Oil exports totaled €104 billion, petroleum products €75 billion, gas €40 billion, and coal €23 billion. Despite multiple sanctions packages, the European Union continues to import Russian energy. In 2024, the EU spent €21.9 billion on Russian oil and gas, just 1% less than in 2023. Over the same period, EU financial assistance to Ukraine amounted to €18.7 billion, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Yet Trump may spare Russia’s largest trading partners. In recent months, he has taken steps to impose severe tariffs on the European Union and China, only to reverse course under pressure from business groups and concerns about global trade disruptions. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan received formal notification from the U.S. on July 7 that a 25% tariff on its goods will take effect from August 1, 2025. This raises the possibility that smaller economies in Russia’s orbit may become targets of U.S. economic retaliation. Already in the Crosshairs Kazakh analyst Olzhas Baidildinov noted that trade between Kazakhstan and Russia totaled $27.8 billion in 2024, with $18.2 billion in exports from Russia and $9.5 billion from Kazakhstan. "Such figures certainly cannot escape the attention of OFAC,” Baidildinov wrote, referring to the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. “European sanctions apply only within Europe. However, Kazakhstan continues to import Russian oil, gas, and petroleum products. Secondary sanctions, as I’ve previously warned, are merely a matter of minor adjustments to existing measures,” he added. Trump’s administration may also be overlooking Kazakhstan’s unique geographic and economic ties to Russia. The two countries share the world’s longest continuous land border, over 7,500 kilometers, and are closely connected through pipelines, energy infrastructure, and raw materials trade. Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan Also Vulnerable Azerbaijan’s trade with Russia reached approximately $4.8 billion in 2024, an increase of 10.1 percent. Russia ranks as Azerbaijan’s third-largest trading partner, after Italy and Turkey. Exports to Russia totaled $1.178 billion, accounting for 4.4 percent of Azerbaijan’s total exports. Notably, Russia is the largest buyer of Azerbaijan’s non-oil products, with a 34.6 percent share. Imports from Russia include foodstuffs, machinery, and metals, while Azerbaijan supplies gas, textiles, and agricultural goods. Kyrgyzstan is also at risk....

International trade

Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania Advance Caspian Sea-Black Sea Transport Corridor

On February 10, representatives from the foreign ministries and transport authorities of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania held a video conference to discuss a draft intergovernmental agreement on the establishment and operation of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea International Transport Route, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported. Participants expressed confidence that the quadrilateral agreement, expected to be signed this year, will significantly boost international freight transportation between Central Asia and Europe. They also highlighted the anticipated positive impact on trade relations among the participating countries and emphasized the importance of involving international cargo transportation organizations to enhance connectivity between European and Asian markets. The initiative builds on a joint declaration signed by the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania in Bucharest in March 2019, which set the foundation for the corridor’s development. The new transport route will link Turkmenistan’s Caspian Sea port of Turkmenbashi with Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanța, passing through the ports of Baku in Azerbaijan and Poti and Batumi in Georgia.

Trade

Kazakhstan and China Set to Expand Trade and E-Commerce

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.