Kyrgyzstan is open to international trade, which accounts for around 99% of GDP (World Bank – latest data available). The government's trade policy aims to further integrate the country into the global economy, giving exporters better access to local markets and encouraging product diversification. Kyrgyzstan mainly exports petroleum oils (6.4%), precious-metal ores and concentrates (5.9%), dried leguminous vegetables (4.2%), waste and scrap of copper (3.9%), and cotton yarn other than sewing thread (3.7%); whereas imports are led by petroleum oils (9.0%), knitted or crocheted fabrics (5.5%), motor cars (5.5%), base metal mountings (4.5%), and parts of footwear (3.7% - data Comtrade 2022).
The main trading partners for exports are Russia (47.4%), Kazakhstan (18.2%), Uzbekistan (10.5%), Türkiye (6.2%), United Arab Emirates (4.5%), and China (2.7%). Kyrgyzstan's main import origins are China (41.5%), Russia (24.5%), Kazakhstan (7.8%), Türkiye (5.0%), Uzbekistan (3.7%), and the United States (2.4% - data Comtrade 2022). Kyrgyzstan has been a member of the Eurasian Economic Union – which also includes Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus - since August 2015; and a member of the WTO since 1998. The country has eliminated tariffs on raw materials, equipment, and certain goods that it cannot produce in sufficient quantity, in order to develop the domestic industry and secure supply for the population. Nevertheless, non-tariff barriers significantly slow down trade.
The Kyrgyz Republic has a structural trade deficit: in 2022, the country exported USD 2.1 billion worth of goods (-20.5% vis-à-vis one year earlier), whereas imports expanded by 72.5%, to USD 9.6 billion. In the same year, the exports of services totaled USD 1.2 million, against USD 1.3 million in imports (+243% and +85.1%, respectively). According to preliminary data released by the Kyrgyz National Statistics Committee, exports of goods stood at USD 3.3 billion in 2023, whereas imports totaled USD 12.4 billion (+46.8% and +26% year-on-year, respectively). China was Kyrgyzstan's top trading partner in 2023 (34.7% of the country's total trade volume), whereas the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union accounted for 27.8%.
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 4,989 | 3,719 | 5,580 | 9,803 | 12,352 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 1,986 | 1,973 | 2,752 | 2,255 | 3,309 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 1,021 | 604 | 740 | 1,483 | 2,713 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 1,083 | 428 | 522 | 1,375 | 2,214 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 6 | -28 | 39 | n/a | n/a |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 16 | -27 | 16 | n/a | n/a |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -2,624 | -1,440 | -2,418 | -6,823 | n/a |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 99 | 83 | 106 | n/a | n/a |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 64 | 52 | 68 | n/a | n/a |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 35 | 31 | 38 | n/a | n/a |
Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2023 |
---|---|
Switzerland | 32.9% |
Russia | 22.6% |
Kazakhstan | 13.8% |
Uzbekistan | 8.8% |
United Arab Emirates | 5.7% |
See More Countries | 16.3% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2023 |
---|---|
China | 43.3% |
Russia | 17.6% |
Kazakhstan | 6.8% |
South Korea | 4.5% |
Türkiye | 3.7% |
See More Countries | 24.1% |
Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data
Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data
To go further, check out our service Import Controls and Export Controls
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data
List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs Duties and Local Taxes
Member of Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC)
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Latest Update: May 2024