Kazakhstan Short-Term Economic Indicator

Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 4.3% year-on-year in January-May 2026, up slightly from 4.2% recorded in the January-April period. This marked the highest growth since January-December 2025, driven by strong performance in construction (13.4%), transportation and storage (8.4%), and trade (5.6%). Meanwhile, the slowest growth was recorded in industry (2.5%), agriculture (3.6%), and communications (3.7%). By region, economic activity expanded most strongly in Turkistan (20.2%), Zhetisu (14.2%), and Soltustik (13.1%). In contrast, it declined in Atyrau (-33.2%), Batys (-20.1%), Akmola (-10%), and Shygys (-1.6%).

Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 3.6% year-on-year in January–April 2026, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of National Statistics. Growth continued to gain momentum, supported by strong manufacturing activity, which surged 9.9%, driven largely by a 23.3% jump in mechanical engineering amid higher production of vehicles, agricultural and railway machinery, and electrical equipment. Other manufacturing segments also posted robust gains, including light industry, which more than doubled, alongside furniture manufacturing (41.7%), pharmaceuticals (35.2%), construction materials (27.7%), chemicals (18.4%), and food production (14.4%). Strong growth was also recorded in construction (14.5%), transport and warehousing (12%), trade (5.1%), and agriculture (3.6%). The government said the current structure of GDP growth reflects the increasing role of non-resource sectors, particularly construction, transport, trade, and manufacturing.

Kazakhstan’s short-term economic indicator, a measure of monthly GDP growth, contracted by 2.8% year-on-year in January 2026, reversing the four-month high of 9.4% growth recorded in the previous month. It marked the first economic contraction since March 2021, primarily driven by declines in industry (-6.6% vs 7.5%) and mining and quarrying (-19.9% vs 9.4%). Growth also slowed in several other sectors, including manufacturing (4.4% vs 6.4%), agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.6% vs 5.9%), construction (14.4% vs 15.9%), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (2.9% vs 8.9%), and transportation and storage (5.9% vs 20.4%). Regionally, economic activity fell most sharply in Atyrau (-33.2%), Batys Kazakhstan (-20.1%), Akmola (-10.0%), and Shygys Kazakhstan (-1.6%). In contrast, the strongest growth was recorded in Turkistan (20.2%), Zhetisu (14.2%), and Soltustik Kazakhstan (13.1%).