Kazakhstan has cemented its lead as Central Asia’s biggest trading partner with China in the first quarter of 2026, posting a dramatic surge in trade volumes.

New data from China’s General Administration of Customs shows bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and China reached $13.2 billion, a striking 46.7% increase year-on-year, far outpacing regional peers, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The gap with neighboring economies widened significantly. Uzbekistan ranked second with $4.1 billion in trade, up 36.7%, while Kyrgyzstan followed closely at $4 billion, though its trade volume fell sharply by 34.4%.

Elsewhere in the region, Turkmenistan recorded $2.2 billion in trade with China, down 4.3%, while Tajikistan posted steady growth, reaching $1 billion, up 19%.