Azernews.Az

Kazakhstan’s GDP grew by 4.1% in January–July 2026, according to preliminary data from the country’s Bureau of National Statistics, cited by the government press service, AzerNEWS reports.

The main driver of growth was the non-resource sector, which expanded by 5.4% during the first seven months of the year. This suggests that Kazakhstan’s economy is becoming less dependent on oil and other raw materials.

The Ministry of National Economy said economic growth has remained stable despite lower oil production and continued volatility in global markets.

Oil output fell by 8.9% year-on-year in January–July, reaching 53.2 million tonnes.

For comparison, Kazakhstan produced around 99.6 million tonnes of oil in 2025. The government expects total production to reach approximately 98 million tonnes in 2026.

An interesting point: Oil remains one of Kazakhstan’s most important sources of export revenue, but the government has been actively promoting manufacturing, transport, construction, agriculture and other non-resource industries to diversify the economy.

Kazakhstan is also positioning itself as a key transit hub between China, Central Asia and Europe. Growing investment in railways, roads and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route could give the country an additional source of long-term economic growth beyond its traditional reliance on energy exports.

Despite the decline in oil output, the latest figures indicate that Kazakhstan’s broader economy continues to expand — a potentially important sign for its diversification strategy.