Kazakhstan's foreign trade surplus halves in 2023 - preliminary data

ASTANA. Feb 13 (Interfax-Kazakhstan) - The foreign trade turnover of Kazakhstan increased 3.2% to $140 billion in 2023, National Economy Minister Nurlan Baibazarov said.

"Preliminary data show that foreign trade turnover increased 3.2% in 2023 to $140 billion," Baibazarov said at a Tuesday meeting of the government.

Last year, there was a trade surplus of about $18 billion, the minister said.

The Bureau of National Statistics previously reported that Kazakhstan's positive foreign trade balance totaled $34.4 billion in 2022 (an 80% increase compared to 2021). Therefore, last year's figure represents a 47.4% decrease.

The minister also said that mining industry output increased 0.2% last year. "At the same time, services from the mining industry increased 6.2%, the production of metal ores increased 6.1%, gas increased 0.5%, and other minerals grew 3.3%. Coal production decreased 4.7 %, and oil decreased 1.7%," he said.