Kazakhstan plans to double its copper ore production to 300 million tons by 2030, with the Aidarly, Koksay, and Benkala deposits driving the expansion.
This ambitious goal was revealed by Deputy Minister of Industry and Construction Olzhas Saparbekov during a recent government meeting, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.
A Strategic Shift Toward Processing
Alongside copper, Kazakhstan plans to expand iron ore production by 40%, aiming for 52 million tons. This increase will be driven by enterprise modernization and new projects producing hot-briquetted iron.
In 2024, metallurgical ore production grew by 7.8%, while total metal output rose by 6.9%. Authorities are shifting focus from raw extraction to deep processing and the development of medium- and high-tech industries. By 2025, copper processing is expected to double, aluminum processing will increase by 50%, lead processing will more than double, and zinc output will rise by 11%.
According to Saparbekov, these efforts will allow Kazakhstan to “utilize domestic production capacities and expand the output of finished products,” including wire rod, cable and wire products, batteries, window profiles, fittings, and bimetallic radiators. New projects also aim to produce brass components and industrial batteries.
Economic Impact and Investment Plans
The mining and metallurgical sector currently contributes 8% to Kazakhstan’s GDP, generating over $26.4 billion annually. The industry employs approximately 224,000 people. In 2024 alone, more than $3.2 billion was invested in metallurgy, while labor productivity increased by 9.4%, reaching $102,000 per worker.
In 2025, Kazakhstan plans to implement 190 industrial projects worth a combined $3 billion. Of these, 28 projects in the mining and metallurgical sector, valued at $837 million, are expected to create 6,500 new jobs. Priority initiatives include the production of seamless pipes and aluminum radiators in Karaganda, aluminum profiles in the Turkestan Region, ferroalloys in Pavlodar, and cathode copper in the Zhambyl Region.
Rising Tensions with Russia
However, Kazakhstan’s rapid metallurgical growth is stirring concern in neighboring Russia. In the first half of 2025, domestic steel demand in Russia fell by 14-15%, with the machine-building and energy sectors seeing a sharper decline of 25%.
Severstal CEO Alexander Shevelev told Kommersant that increasing supplies from Kazakhstan, alongside imports from China, are straining Russia’s market and may force plant closures.
He identified particularly intense competition in Siberia and the Russian Far East. Severstal has warned that, without protective measures under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), pressure from Kazakh imports could spread to other Russian regions.
In response, Russia is considering launching an anti-dumping investigation into Kazakh steel imports. Such a move could significantly impact Kazakh exporters, who are looking to increase shipments amid weak domestic demand in neighboring markets.
According to the World Steel Association, Russia’s steel production declined by 5.2% between January and May 2025. The drop is attributed to low global prices, high interest rates, rising production costs, and sluggish industrial activity.
