Kazakhstan has reached agreements to import metallurgical raw materials from Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan as the country moves to strengthen supplies for its steel and metals industry and support industrial growth.

Industry and Construction Minister Yersaiyn Nagaspayev announced the new deals during a government meeting, saying the agreements are part of broader efforts to stabilize raw material supplies for the country's metallurgical plants, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

The minister said Kazakhstan's metallurgical industry operated at 97.3% of planned output in the first half of 2026. Performance was affected by scheduled maintenance at major industrial facilities and the gradual depletion of domestic mineral resources.

However, the sector showed signs of recovery, improving by 1.8% compared to the first five months of the year. The rebound was driven by increased domestic deliveries of copper, zinc, and gold-bearing raw materials, the resumption of zinc concentrate supplies, and the newly secured import agreements with Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Nagaspayev also highlighted the strong performance of Kazakhstan's manufacturing sector, which expanded by 9.8% in the first half of the year. Growth was led by machinery production, chemicals, construction materials, rubber and plastic products, and light industry, supported by the launch of new manufacturing facilities.

So far in 2026, Kazakhstan has completed 74 industrial projects worth 252 billion tenge, creating more than 4,300 permanent jobs. By year-end, the government plans to launch 200 investment projects valued at 1.7 trillion tenge, reinforcing its push to diversify the economy and expand industrial production.