The volume of mutual trade in 2019 amounted to $380,3 million, which was by 26,7% lower than in 2018. Exports amounted to $299,5 million (declined by 30,2%), while import comprised $80,8 million (decreased by 9,9%).
Main export goods are: barley, steel, wheat, meat, fertilizers. Imported goods are: cement, paints, varnishes, fruits, dried fruits. The decline in trade is due to US financial and economic restrictions imposed in 2018.
For the period of 2007-2019 the gross inflow of direct investment from Iran to Kazakhstan amounted to $113,4 million, and the outflow of direct investment from Kazakhstan to Iran was $11,1 million.
523 legal entities, branches and representative offices with Iranian participation are registered in Kazakhstan, 229 of which are active.
The Kazakh-Iranian Intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation (Commission) steadily works. The co-chairmen of the Commission are the Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan B. Sultanov and the Minister of Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran K.Khavazi.
The 16th Meeting of the Commission was held on September 26-27, 2019 in Nur-Sultan. In the framework of the meeting the Minister of Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran M. Hojati was received by the Prime-Minister A.Mamin.
In February 2016, a business forum with the participation of representatives of 600 companies from both countries was held in Tehran. During the visit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Iran (April 11-12, 2016), a Program of cooperation in the field of industrialization, trade, economic and investment cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The document included 30 projects (amounting $1 billion). However, the implementation of a number of projects is impeded by US sanctions.
The use of the Uzen (Kazakhstan) - Gyzylgaya - Bereket - Etrek (Turkmenistan) - Gorgan (Iran) railway line contributes to the development of bilateral trade and economic ties.