Day: June 2, 2025

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have reaffirmed their commitment to significantly boost bilateral trade, aiming to reach $3 billion annually by 2030. The pledge was made during a meeting between Daniyar Amangeldiyev, First Deputy Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers, and Serik Zhumangarin, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy, on the sidelines of the Astana International Forum on May 30.

In 2024, trade between the two countries totaled $1.7 billion. The new target reflects a strategic initiative set by the presidents of both nations to deepen economic integration.

Roadmap for Trade Expansion

At the meeting, officials discussed a draft roadmap to accelerate bilateral trade. Zhumangarin noted that Kazakhstan is prepared to increase its exports to Kyrgyzstan by more than $260 million, with a focus on petrochemicals, food products, and metallurgy.

In the first quarter of 2025, trade between the two countries reached $435.1 million, a 25.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Kazakhstan’s exports stood at $341.9 million, while imports from Kyrgyzstan totaled $93.3 million.

Agriculture: A Key Growth Sector

Agricultural products now account for 20% of bilateral trade, and this figure continues to rise. In Q1 2025, trade in agricultural goods surged by 40.7%. Kazakhstan exported 3,400 tons of grain and 10,900 tons of flour to Kyrgyzstan during this period.

In a notable development, Kazakhstan has approved Kyrgyzstan’s proposal to establish a “green-light” corridor at the border, ensuring the unhindered passage of early-season fruits and vegetables from Kyrgyzstan.

Major Logistics Hub to Boost Connectivity

A flagship joint project is the creation of an Industrial Trade and Logistics Complex at the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border. Located near the Karasu and Ak-Tilek checkpoints, the hub is poised to become one of Central Asia’s largest cargo distribution centers, supporting the consolidation, processing, and transit of goods.

Land has already been allocated for the project: 50 hectares on the Kazakh side and 40 hectares on the Kyrgyz side. An investor has been identified, and work on a master plan and feasibility study is currently underway.

To support this initiative, Kazakhstan has established the Alatau industrial zone in the Zhambyl region. The zone will host facilities for agricultural processing, as well as the production of consumer goods and building materials.

Infrastructure Connectivity: Almaty-Issyk-Kul Highway Project

The meeting also touched on the long-anticipated construction of an alternative highway linking Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, with Lake Issyk-Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most popular tourist destinations. The project is expected to enhance regional connectivity and stimulate tourism and trade between the two countries.

Kazakhstan ranks 36th out of 124 countries in a global gasoline affordability index based on average monthly earnings, according to recent data from Numbeo and analysis by Energyprom.kz. The study assesses how many liters of gasoline a person can buy with an average monthly salary and compares this indicator across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and globally.

Kazakhstan Among CIS Leaders in Fuel Affordability

According to the report, the average Kazakhstani can purchase approximately 1,100 liters of gasoline per month based on their salary. This places Kazakhstan second among CIS countries, trailing only Russia, where the average salary covers about 1,140 liters, ranking 34th worldwide. Belarus follows with 801.3 liters, then Azerbaijan (677.9 liters), Kyrgyzstan (483.9 liters), Moldova (476.6 liters), Uzbekistan (461.3 liters), Armenia (450.3 liters), Ukraine (341.4 liters), and Tajikistan (223.8 liters).

Globally, Libya leads with a staggering 10,100 liters, followed by Kuwait (8,900 liters) and Qatar (6,600 liters). In contrast, Syria ranks last, where the average salary can buy just 22.1 liters. Cuba (28.5 liters) and Côte d’Ivoire (112.3 liters) also rank among the lowest.

Global Gasoline Prices: Kazakhstan Remains Among the Most Affordable

Kazakhstan is also one of the countries with the lowest fuel prices, around $0.50 per liter. Cheaper fuel is found in Libya ($0.03), Egypt and Algeria ($0.30), Kuwait ($0.40), and Malaysia ($0.50). By comparison, the most expensive gasoline is in Hong Kong at $3.10 per liter, followed by Iceland ($2.40), and Singapore, the Netherlands, and Switzerland (all around $2.20).

Price Trends in Kazakhstan

In April 2025, gasoline prices in Kazakhstan rose by 0.4% compared to the previous month and by 2.2% year-on-year. Prices for premium grades, AI-95/96 and AI-98, increased by 0.1% month-over-month, while AI-92 rose by 0.4%.

On an annual basis, AI-92 increased by 1.8%, AI-98 by 3.2%, and AI-95/96 by 4.3%. The Zhambyl region saw the highest monthly increase at 1%, followed by the Abai and Turkestan regions and Shymkent (all at 0.8%). North Kazakhstan recorded the smallest increase (0.1%), while prices remained unchanged in Aktobe, Ulytau, and Almaty. The West Kazakhstan region saw a slight price decline of 0.1%.

Year-on-year, the highest price growth was observed in West Kazakhstan (4.8%), Aktobe (4.1%), and Shymkent (3.1%). The most modest increases were recorded in Almaty (0.9%), Akmola (1.1%), and Zhetysu (1.7%).

Production, Pricing, and Export Data

In April 2025, the average price per liter of AI-92 was 205 KZT ($0.40), AI-95/96 stood at 264 KZT ($0.52), and AI-98 at 299 KZT ($0.59). The highest AI-92 prices were in Petropavlovsk ($0.41), and the lowest in Atyrau ($0.38). Taldykorgan had the most expensive AI-95/96 ($0.54), while Atyrau offered the lowest ($0.48). AI-98 was priciest in Almaty ($0.62) and cheapest in Aktobe ($0.56).

In the first two months of 2025, domestic producers met 99.99% of the nation’s gasoline demand. Kazakhstan produced 1.1 million tons of gasoline, a 20.8% year-on-year increase. Imports totaled only 101.8 tons, down 8.1%. The country exported 6,700 tons of gasoline during this period, all to Uzbekistan. Supplies to the domestic market rose by 20%, also reaching 1.1 million tons.