According to the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan, bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Japan amounted to 1.43 billion USD from January to October 2025. Kazakhstan’s exports to Japan totaled 348.1 million USD, while imports from Japan reached 1.08 billion USD.
Kazakhstan’s main exports to Japan consist primarily of metals and metal products, with ferroalloys accounting for more than half of total exports. Other key export items include oil, coal, briquettes and other solid fuels, chemical products, and plant-based goods.
Imports from Japan are dominated by passenger cars and trucks, as well as bulldozers, graders, and other specialized machinery. Medical instruments and devices, tires, and rubber products also constitute a significant share of Japan’s exports to Kazakhstan.
Japan ranks among Kazakhstan’s top ten largest foreign investors, with cumulative investment exceeding 8 billion USD.
According to the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreign direct investment from Japan reached 119.7 million USD by the end of the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a 49.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
More than 60 Japanese companies are registered in Kazakhstan, operating across a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, metallurgy, finance, mining, wholesale automotive trade, telecommunications, wholesale equipment distribution, forestry, logistics, healthcare, agriculture, and other industries.
The Joint Commission of the Governments and Private Sectors of Kazakhstan and Japan on Economic Cooperation is operational.
Since 2017, Japanese citizens have been able to visit the country without a visa for up to 30 days in order to improve commercial relations.