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Kazakhstan
(information)
Population as of 2020: 18.7 million 63 of 193
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Region: Middle East
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $288.4 billion 48 of 193
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Top Exports
Kazakhstan exported approximately **US$81.6 billion** worth of goods in 2024 and remains one of the world's most resource-dependent export economies, led overwhelmingly by oil, uranium, metals, and mineral products.
| Rank | Export Product | Estimated Export Value (USD) |
| ---- | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------: |
| 1 | Crude petroleum oil | **~US$42.9 billion** |
| 2 | Uranium & radioactive chemical elements | **~US$4.6 billion** |
| 3 | Refined copper & copper cathodes | **~US$4.1 billion** |
| 4 | Copper ores & concentrates | **~US$3.2 billion** |
| 5 | Ferroalloys | **~US$2.4–2.5 billion** |
| 6 | Petroleum gases (including LNG/LPG) | **~US$1.7 billion** |
| 7 | Wheat | **~US$1.1–1.2 billion** |
| 8 | Iron ores & concentrates | **~US$800 million** |
| 9 | Refined petroleum products | **~US$800 million** |
| 10 | Zinc and zinc products | **~US$700–800 million** |
| 11 | Aluminum and aluminum products | ~US$700 million |
| 12 | Gold and precious metals | ~US$1.1 billion |
| 13 | Iron and steel products | ~US$4.4 billion |
| 14 | Inorganic chemicals | ~US$5.5 billion |
| 15 | Machinery and industrial equipment | ~US$1.8 billion |
| 16 | Electrical equipment | ~US$1.3 billion |
| 17 | Barley | ~US$400–500 million |
| 18 | Sunflower oil and vegetable oils | ~US$300–400 million |
| 19 | Flour and grain products | ~US$300 million |
| 20 | Agricultural products (misc.) | ~US$200–300 million |
*Values are rounded from 2024 category and product-level trade data and may overlap somewhat between product-level and sector-level classifications.*
Key Takeaways
* 🛢️ **Oil dominates the economy**
* Crude oil alone generated roughly **US$42.9 billion**, accounting for about **52.5% of all exports**.
* ☢️ **Kazakhstan is a global uranium powerhouse**
* Uranium and radioactive materials were the country's second-largest export category at roughly **US$4.6 billion**.
* 🥉 **Copper is a major pillar**
* Refined copper and copper ores together generated more than **US$7 billion** in exports.
* ⛏️ **Mining and metals dominate**
* Major exports include:
* copper
* ferroalloys
* iron ore
* zinc
* aluminum
* uranium.
* 🌾 **Kazakhstan is also a major grain exporter**
* Wheat and barley remain important exports, particularly to Central Asia, China, and the Middle East.
* ⚠️ **Highly concentrated export structure**
* Oil, uranium, copper, and mineral products account for the vast majority of export earnings.
Top Importers of Kazakhstan’s Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Estimated Imports from Kazakhstan |
| ---- | ------------- | --------------------------------: |
| 1 | Italy | **~US$18.7 billion** |
| 2 | China | **~US$14.9 billion** |
| 3 | Russia | **~US$9.6 billion** |
| 4 | Netherlands | **~US$5.3 billion** |
| 5 | France | **~US$3.7 billion** |
| 6 | Türkiye | **~US$3.3 billion** |
| 7 | Uzbekistan | **~US$2.8 billion** |
| 8 | Romania | **~US$2.8 billion** |
| 9 | Greece | **~US$2.8 billion** |
| 10 | United States | **~US$2.0 billion** |
*Just outside the top 10:* Spain (~US$1.35B), Kyrgyzstan (~US$1.26B), and South Korea (~US$1.25B).
Key Patterns
* 🇮🇹 **Italy was Kazakhstan’s largest export customer**
* Italy purchased nearly **23% of all Kazakh exports**, primarily crude oil.
* 🇨🇳 **China was a close second**
* China imported large quantities of:
* crude oil
* uranium
* copper
* mineral resources.
* 🛢️ **Energy exports shape the rankings**
* Countries such as Italy, China, the Netherlands, France, Greece, and Romania are major buyers because of Kazakhstan’s oil exports.
* ☢️ **Uranium and metals drive additional trade**
* Kazakhstan is one of the world’s leading exporters of:
* uranium
* copper
* ferroalloys
* iron ore.
* 🌍 **Exports are split between Europe and Asia**
* Unlike many countries that depend heavily on one region, Kazakhstan exports extensively to both:
* European industrial economies
* Asian manufacturing powers.
