Trade between Russia and Kazakhstan reached a record $28 billion, with Russian exports growing by nearly 5%, according to Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS. The surge, driven by machinery, chemicals, transport, and minerals, underscores the deepening economic ties within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), where Russia accounts for 91.3% of Kazakhstan’s EAEU trade. Kazakhstan, now Russia’s second-largest trade partner after China, saw imports from Russia rise to $18.25 billion, an 8.3% increase, while exporting $9.78 billion to Russia, primarily in radioactive chemicals, iron, and ores.
Over 70 major Russian-backed investment projects are underway in Kazakhstan, spanning automotive, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals, and digital technologies, as noted by Kazinform. These initiatives, alongside 80 Russian regions actively engaging with Kazakhstan, signal robust bilateral cooperation, with trade projected to hit $30 billion in coming years. Tourism also flourished, with 4.8 million trips exchanged, making Kazakhstan one of Russia’s top three foreign destinations.
The trade boom, however, navigates geopolitical complexities. Kazakhstan’s export of dual-use goods, like electronics, has raised Western concerns about sanctions circumvention, with a 22-fold increase in such exports to Russia noted in 2022. Astana’s cautious stance—implementing additional export documentation to avoid secondary sanctions—reflects its delicate balance within the EAEU and global markets. Tensions surfaced in October 2024 when Russia banned Kazakh agricultural imports, citing pest concerns, after Kazakhstan declined BRICS membership, though no direct link was confirmed.
Posts on X, such as @mfa_russia’s November 2024 note on $28.5 billion in trade, highlight Russia’s view of Kazakhstan as a “reliable ally.” Yet, critics like @ChathamHouse point to Kazakhstan’s growing economic dependence, with Russia controlling 25% of its uranium production and key export routes like the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Despite these dynamics, the $134.4 billion foreign trade record set by Kazakhstan in 2022, bolstered by Russia and China, positions it as a pivotal Central Asian hub, with analysts optimistic about sustained growth if geopolitical risks are managed.
Leave a comment