Kazakhstan’s e-commerce market hits $6.2 billion as digital trade grows sevenfold in five years

Reuters

Kazakhstan's e-commerce sector has soared to 3.2 trillion tenge (around 6.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, marking a sevenfold increase since 2020, according to Deputy Prime Minister Serik Jumanğarin.

Kazakhstan's e-commerce landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past five years, with digital trade now accounting for 14.1 percent of the country's total retail turnover. The surge from 476 billion tenge (approximately 918 million U.S. dollars) in 2020 to 3.2 trillion tenge in 2024 reflects not only shifting consumer habits but also targeted government support and infrastructure development.

Speaking in response to a parliamentary inquiry, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Jumanğarin noted that despite the strong growth in online shopping, many Kazakh consumers remain cautious. Concerns over fraud and digital trust continue to drive a preference for traditional brick-and-mortar retail.

Kazakhstan is currently home to 104 registered e-commerce platforms, including dominant players such as Kaspi.kz, Wildberries, Ozon, and Halyk Market. These platforms are central to the country's digital retail economy, offering a wide range of goods and services nationwide.

To support this expanding ecosystem, significant investments are being made in logistics and delivery infrastructure. National postal operator Kazpost is developing 85,000 square metres of warehouse space across key cities including Almaty, Aktobe and Turkistan. Private sector giants Wildberries and Ozon are also ramping up their presence with the construction of new logistics hubs in Almaty and the capital, Astana.

Jumanğarin also highlighted improvements in digital payment security. Global payment providers Visa and Mastercard have introduced artificial intelligence-driven tools aimed at reducing fraud and enhancing the customer experience for online transactions.

The Kazakh government continues to prioritise the digital economy as part of its broader modernisation agenda, with e-commerce positioned as a key driver of domestic growth and international trade integration.

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