North Kazakhstan Region’s foreign trade turnover rose to $922.0 million in the first half of 2026 (+40.4%), with exports growing almost twice as fast as imports (+69.3% versus +23.8%) – the region is clearly expanding its external sales at a much faster pace.
Russia ($360.4 million, +45.6%) remains the region’s largest trading partner, while China is accelerating even more sharply (+89.2%, to $144.6 million).
Exports
Exports in the first half of 2026 reached $404.5 million (+69.3%). Food products dominated, accounting for 88.3% of exports ($357.1 million, +76.0%), reflecting the region’s classic grain-producing profile.
Wheat, animal feed shipped entirely to China, and flaxseed form the standard export basket of a grain-producing region.
Exports to Uzbekistan have grown steadily over many years, rising from $18.6 million in 2015 to $77.7 million in 2025 without any abrupt jumps. Exports to Afghanistan have been more volatile: a peak of $103.8 million in 2022 was followed by a decline to $59.0 million in 2024 and a moderate recovery to $62.3 million in 2025. The current increase (+104.8%) partly reflects a return to normal levels after a weak 2025 rather than an entirely new record.
Imports
Imports in the first half of 2026 rose to $517.5 million (+23.8%). Food products accounted for 18.2%.
Passenger railway carriages, combine harvesters from Germany and, unexpectedly, wheat sourced entirely from Russia ($30.2 million) dominate the import picture. For a grain-producing region, the latter looks unusual and is most likely explained by the cross-border logistics of specific grain elevators.
Imports of German agricultural machinery underwent a structural shift in 2021-2022, jumping from $9.8-19.6 million to $104.3 million. They have since remained at a new, elevated level, reaching $130.8 million in 2025. This points to a sustained renewal of the combine harvester fleet rather than a one-off purchase.
In the first half of 2026, North Kazakhstan Region recorded much faster growth in exports (+69.3%) than in imports (+23.8%), driven entirely by its grain specialisation, with food products accounting for 88% of exports. On the import side, the sustained renewal of the region’s German harvesting machinery fleet, under way since 2021-2022, remains the most notable trend.
National Bureau of Economic Research specifically for EconomyKZ.org
