Imports of industrial goods into Kyrgyzstan surged in January 2026, driven by a construction boom and the modernisation of production capacity, with China supplying $51.2 million in electrical equipment to become the country’s largest trading partner.
The National Statistical Committee reported that imports of electrical machinery and equipment rose by 45.8% year on year to $51.2 million, largely supplied by China. Imports of base metals also increased sharply, rising 2.3-fold to $79.7 million, including $58.8 million in steel products from Russia.
Other key import categories included plastics and related products at $21.1 million, pharmaceuticals at $20.9 million (up 18.1%), and clothing and accessories at $6.3 million, supplied mainly by China, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Overall, imports accounted for 87.7% of Kyrgyzstan’s total external trade turnover, which reached $1.05 billion in January, underlining the country’s continued reliance on foreign industrial and technical goods.
Despite strong import growth, export performance remained uneven. Exports of machinery and equipment rose by 54.3% to $9.8 million, while exports of plastics increased by 30.1% to $5.7 million.
However, clothing exports, a key employment sector, declined by 21.2% to $5.5 million, signalling structural challenges in the textile industry. Exports of transport equipment reached $3.6 million, while glass products totalled $1.4 million.
The country recorded a significant trade deficit of $799.3 million, with exports accounting for just 12.3% of total trade.
China and Russia remained the dominant suppliers, accounting for a combined 63% of total imports. China alone contributed 36.6% ($338.6 million), while Russia accounted for 26.4% ($244.3 million).
Other notable import partners included Kazakhstan (9.4%), Uzbekistan (5.7%) and South Korea (5%).
On the export side, Russia and Kazakhstan were the main destinations, each accounting for around 22% of exports, followed by Uzbekistan with a 13% share. Meanwhile, Switzerland ranked fourth, highlighting diversification in export markets.
Imports from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries increased by 27.4%, while imports from non-CIS countries declined by 6.1%, indicating a shift towards regional trade integration.
However, analysts note that Kyrgyzstan remains highly dependent on imports from third countries, which account for 62.3% of total trade. The current trade structure reflects both rising domestic demand and ongoing challenges in developing competitive export industries.
Visitors to Armenia could face temperature screening after a lab worker died from suspected Pneumonic plague in Russia, Yerevan’s Health Mini...
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called for further integration of infrastructure between regional countries to bolster the ...
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
The German-Azerbaijani Connectivity Conference 2026 commenced on 6 October in Baku under the title “Mobilising Finance for Infrastructure, Transport, Logistics, Green Energy, and Digitalisation along the Middle Corridor.”
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called for further integration of infrastructure between regional countries to bolster the Middle Corridor trade and logistics network.
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen after attacks on two Saudi airports left three people dead and dozens injured.
Russian oil company Lukoil plans to expand its activities in Uzbekistan, with potential areas including geological exploration, hydrocarbon development and retail fuel sales. The plans were discussed during a meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has said Georgia is a candidate country “only on paper,” prompting a rapid response from senior Georgian officials who rejected the characterisation and criticised Brussels.
United Nations Development Programme Administrator Alexander De Croo has warned the international community against turning its back on Afghanistan, pointing to a sharp fall in opium production while raising serious concerns about restrictions on women and girls.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment