According to the Bureau of National Statistics, manufacturing attracted KZT 1,909.5 billion in fixed-capital investment during the first eight months of 2026.
Mining investment reached KZT 1,874.4 billion. As a result, manufacturing was ahead by approximately KZT 35.1 billion.
The sectors also showed different trends. Manufacturing investment grew by 39.9% in comparable prices. Meanwhile, mining investment fell by 3.9% from January-August 2025.
The comparison covers one specific period. Therefore, it does not by itself prove a lasting change in the structure of the economy.
Image generated using AI
Which regions lead?
Zhambyl Region ranked first with KZT 329.3 billion. That represented about 17.2% of national manufacturing investment.
Atyrau Region followed with KZT 308.8 billion, or approximately 16.2%. Almaty Region ranked third with KZT 207.3 billion. Pavlodar Region came fourth with KZT 204.9 billion.
Together, these four regions accounted for approximately 55% of the national total. Karaganda Region was fifth, with KZT 172.1 billion.
Image generated using AI
Investment levels and growth differ
Investment in Zhambyl Region rose by 121.5% year on year in comparable prices. Atyrau Region recorded growth of 192.9%. The increases were 57.0% in Almaty Region and 52.6% in Pavlodar Region.
However, Karaganda Region illustrates a different pattern. It remained in the top five by investment value, even though its investment fell by 18.1% in comparable prices.
Astana and Shymkent were close in the ranking. Their totals were KZT 62.55 billion and KZT 62.53 billion, respectively. Before rounding, the difference was about KZT 26.5 million.
Ulytau Region ranked last with KZT 4.1 billion. Its manufacturing investment fell by 70.5% in comparable prices. Nevertheless, a low ranking for eight months does not mean the region has no industry. The indicator covers investment in one sector during a specific period.
How to read the figures
The figures measure investment in fixed assets within manufacturing. They are not the same as foreign direct investment, industrial output or jobs created. They also do not, on their own, confirm that a particular plant has opened.
The main finding is the growth and regional concentration of manufacturing investment. Future releases will help assess whether the trend persists and how it relates to output.
