Trade turnover of finished products of Kazakh producers for the first half of 2023 amounted to $39.4 billion, which is 22% higher than in the same period of the previous year. Of these, one-third were exports of non-resource goods from Kazakhstan, amounting to $12.1 bln.
Mainly exported products of metallurgy and chemical industry: copper and copper cathodes, ferroalloys, uranium, petroleum products, unprocessed zinc and aluminum, hot-rolled flat products, natural gas. Also foreign consumers actively buy wheat flour, sunflower oil, mineral fertilizers produced in Kazakhstan. In particular, only sunflower oil exported 155.9 thousand tons. This is 33.4% more than in the same period last year. In general, the trend of increasing supplies of sunflower oil to foreign markets has been noted since last year. At the end of 2022, exports of sunflower oil from Kazakhstan increased 3 times compared to 2021 and amounted to $346.4 million in monetary terms. In addition, last year domestic producers significantly increased the volume of supplies of margarine - 2.7 times, up to $88.8 mln.
The largest volumes of export deliveries are sent to Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Turkey, from non-CIS countries - Netherlands, Great Britain, Japan. For 6 months of the current year, the geography of importing countries of Kazakhstan finished products has significantly expanded, from 114 to 125.
In order to provide domestic producers with access to foreign markets, the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides measures of state support to exporters. These include organization of trade missions, participation in international exhibitions and business forums, training projects and programs.
Thus, the acceleration program helps Kazakhstani companies to effectively develop new markets. This year, 111 exporting companies from the food, chemical, textile and service industries were selected to participate in the program. Moreover, in 2023, the number of Kazakhstani companies ready to export IT services abroad increased significantly.
Another relevant tool for promoting goods is the international electronic trading platform Alibaba.com. The state provides an opportunity for domestic commodity producers and trading companies to sell their products on this platform. In 2023, access to China's largest B2B marketplace was granted to 70 suppliers who were given accounts with the premium status of «Golden Supplier». Sales volumes through the Alibaba platform now exceed $300 million.
Given the rapid development of e-commerce, a B2C platform - JD.com - was opened in May for export-oriented companies from Kazakhstan. The National Pavilion of Kazakhstani goods was formed on its basis. The fact that the first batch of domestic food products was sold out in one week testifies to the high demand for quality food products and the high competitiveness of Kazakhstani food products. Now the work on search and selection of new suppliers is underway. This whole set of measures is aimed at increasing exports of non-resource goods.
As support tools, exporting companies are organized participation in trade and economic missions. As part of the trade mission of Kazakhstani businessmen to Xi'an (PRC), in May the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan launched a pilot showroom of Kazakhstani products on the basis of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Xi'an.
From August 17 to 21, over four dozen Kazakhstani manufacturers took part in the international exhibition «China - Eurasia: Goods and Trade», which was held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the PRC. They offered EXPO visitors confectionery and pasta products, jams and marmalades, honey, ice cream, drinks, textiles, jewelry and other products. At the same time, Kazakhstan's national stand became one of the best at the exhibition among 40 countries and regions that presented their goods.
As part of the Kazakh delegation, entrepreneurs visit government agencies, trade networks, warehouses, national companies of foreign countries, meet with potential partners to study purchasing power. For 6 months of 2023 6 business trips were organized and conducted to such countries as Vietnam (Hanoi), Azerbaijan (Baku), Iran (Tehran), China (Xi'an), Uzbekistan (Tashkent), Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek). By the end of the year, 4 more foreign trips of commodity producers are expected to search for new markets and establish business contacts.
On September 10-12, Kazakhstani entrepreneurs held regular business negotiations with potential partners from Dushanbe. The trade and economic mission was attended by 22 Kazakhstani enterprises of machine-building, food, chemical, manufacturing industries. This is the second meeting of business circles of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan on one platform. In May, Astana hosted a major Kazakhstan-Tajik business forum, where 40 documents on cooperation worth over $2.6 billion were signed.
Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have many areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors of the economy. Our country is among the top 3 largest trade partners of Tajikistan, firmly occupying the second place. Kazakhstan has been successfully exporting automobile products to the Tajik market for the last time. In particular, JAC cars assembled at the plant of «SaryarkaAvtoprom» LLP in Kostanai form the taxi fleet of Dushanbe. In total, Tajikistan imported more than 200 vehicles of Kazakhstani assembly.
In early August, Astana hosted the first Kazakh-Afghan business forum. About 200 delegates from Afghanistan came to establish mutual cooperation. Trade between the countries for the first 5 months of 2023 amounted to $233.3 million, of which $225.1 million is Kazakh exports. Trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan for 2022 almost reached the mark of $1 billion ($987.9 million), doubling the figures for 2021. 90% of trade turnover is accounted for by Kazakh exports, mainly processed products.
Afghanistan for Kazakhstan is a priority market for flour, which accounts for 70% of its total exports. Kazakhstan has an export potential of $500 mln worth of food, petrochemical, chemical, metallurgical, light and machine-building goods to Afghanistan.
The government continues to work to support small and medium-sized businesses and open new opportunities for domestic exporters.