China's trade with Central Asia hit a record high in 2024, with Kazakhstan leading at $43.82B. Rail cargo and joint projects further strengthened regional ties.

China's trade with Central Asian countries reached a new high in 2024, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs (GTU) of the People's Republic of China.

Kazakhstan topped the list of China's trading partners in Central Asia, with a total trade volume of $43.82 billion. Kyrgyzstan ranked second, with $22.71 billion, followed by Uzbekistan, with $13.78 billion. Turkmenistan came in fourth, with $10.65 billion, and Tajikistan closed the top five, with $3.86 billion. In 2023, China's trade turnover with Central Asian countries amounted to $89.4 billion.

Kazakhstan and China transported a record amount of cargo by rail. By the end of 2024, the volume of cargo transportation between China and the Republic of Kazakhstan by rail reached a historic maximum – more than 32 million tons of cargo.

Earlier it was reported in the media that the implementation of a joint project of Kazakhstan Municipal Systems and the Chinese company Envision Energy will cost $40 million. It is expected that 60% of the products produced will be directed to the Kazakh market, and 40% will be exported to the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus.

It is worth noting that in 2022, China's trade with the region reached $70.2 billion, an increase of about 35% since Russia's full-scale war with Ukraine began. This was the moment when the Russian Federation started to seriously lose its position in Central Asia to China.

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