Intra-regional trade among Central Asian nations maintained strong growth during the first seven months of 2026, according to a report by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR). The total volume of trade between these countries increased by 25.4 percent, reaching 8.1 billion dollars.
The report calculates intra-regional trade based on the sum of export deliveries from each country to its neighbors to avoid double-counting. All five Central Asian nations increased their exports to the region during this period.
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan remain the primary drivers of this growth, collectively accounting for 80.6 percent of all intra-regional exports and approximately 90 percent of the total growth in regional trade. Kazakhstan led the region with 55.9 percent of the total export volume, followed by Uzbekistan at 24.7 percent, Turkmenistan at 10.4 percent, Kyrgyzstan at 6.4 percent, and Tajikistan at 2.6 percent.
Trade between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan remains the largest bilateral flow, totaling 3.3 billion dollars for the seven-month period. While Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan function primarily as net exporters within the region, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan remain net importers.
Kazakhstan’s trade with the region reached 5.9 billion dollars, a 25 percent increase. Exports grew by 26.8 percent to 4.5 billion dollars, while imports rose by 19.2 percent to 1.4 billion dollars. Uzbekistan’s regional trade grew by 28 percent to 5.4 billion dollars, with exports rising 35 percent to 2 billion dollars and imports increasing 25 percent to 3.4 billion dollars.
Kyrgyzstan’s regional trade reached 2 billion dollars, a 12.3 percent increase, though the country maintained a trade deficit of 942 million dollars. Tajikistan’s regional trade grew by 30 percent to 1.4 billion dollars, with imports rising 35 percent to 1.2 billion dollars and exports reaching 209 million dollars. Turkmenistan’s exports to the region grew by 10 percent to 844 million dollars, based on mirror data from its neighbors.
The report notes that while regional trade is expanding, it remains characterized by significant trade imbalances and a high concentration of specific bilateral partnerships. CERR suggests that further growth will require the removal of non-tariff barriers, the development of border infrastructure, and the creation of cross-border value chains to move beyond simple bilateral exchanges.