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.
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