Kyrgyz exports to China plummet 98% amid sanctions-busting speculation as Kazakhstan trade surges 25%
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
China’s trade with Central Asia grew 6.5% year-on-year to $52.94 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by strong increases in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan, by contrast, saw exports to China collapse 98% to just $75 million, reviving suspicions that its earlier boom was linked to sanctions-busting for Russia. Bilateral trade with China in Kyrgyzstan shrank 32% to $9.7 billion.
Overall Trade Growth
Total trade between China and five Central Asian states reached $52.94 billion in January–June 2026, a 6.5% increase from the same period last year. China ran a surplus of $34.94 billion in exports against $18 billion in imports. Kazakhstan accounted for the largest share at $27.2 billion, followed by Uzbekistan at $8.87 billion, Kyrgyzstan at $9.7 billion, Tajikistan at $2.35 billion, and Turkmenistan, which saw declining figures.
Kyrgyzstan’s Export Collapse
Kyrgyzstan’s exports to China plunged from $3.89 billion in H1 2025 to $75 million in H1 2026, a decline of 98%. Its imports from China also contracted, falling from $10.36 billion to $9.63 billion. Authorities have not explained the dramatic swings, but analysts link the earlier export boom to Kyrgyzstan’s role as a transit hub for sanctioned goods bound for Russia, possibly settled via gold or other hard-to-trace commodities.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Gains
Kazakhstan’s trade with China rose 25% to $27.2 billion, with imports from Kazakhstan jumping 57% to $12.22 billion, narrowing the trade deficit. Uzbekistan’s turnover grew 31% to $8.87 billion, but its deficit widened as Chinese exports reached $7.65 billion while Uzbek exports rose to only $1.22 billion. Tajikistan’s trade expanded 15% to $2.35 billion, with Chinese exports continuing to dominate.
What's Next
China’s customs agency has not commented on the Kyrgyz data anomaly. It remains unclear whether international sanctions enforcement will target these trade flows in the coming months.
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Kyrgyz exports to China plummet 98% amid sanctions-busting speculation as Kazakhstan trade surges 25%
