Kazakhstan is steadily reducing its trade reliance on partners within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), even as its overall foreign trade volume continues growing, signaling a shift in the country’s economic orientation.

The country’s total foreign trade turnover reached $143.9 billion in 2025, marking a modest nominal increase of 1.3 per cent. However, trade with EAEU member states declined by 0.1 per cent to $30.9 billion, reflecting weakening momentum within the regional bloc, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

When adjusted for inflation, the trend becomes more pronounced. Kazakhstan’s overall foreign trade dropped by 9.4 per cent in real terms, while trade with EAEU countries fell even further-down 9.6 per cent-highlighting the growing impact of global economic pressures and changing trade patterns.

Kazakhstan’s exports totaled $79 billion, down 3.2 per cent in nominal terms and 13.8 per cent in real terms compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, imports rose 7.4 per cent nominally to $64.8 billion, though they declined by 3.4 per cent in real terms.

China emerged as Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner in 2025, accounting for 23.7 per cent of total trade, or $34.1 billion. Russia followed with 19 per cent ($27.4 billion), while Italy ranked third with 11.8 per cent ($16.9 billion). Italy remains a key destination due to its oil export infrastructure, serving as a major transit hub for Kazakh crude shipments to global markets.

In terms of exports, Italy led with a 19.8 per cent share, closely followed by China at 19.2 per cent and Russia at 10.3 per cent. On the import side, Russia remained Kazakhstan’s largest supplier with a 29.7 per cent share, narrowly ahead of China at 29.2 per cent, while Germany ranked third with 4.8 per cent.