Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arman Issagaliyev received copies of the credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia, concurrently accredited to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Monica Nashandi.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Namibia, Deputy Minister Issagaliyev expressed confidence that her diplomatic mission would...

Kazakhstan has identified 5.2 million hectares of non-forested land within its 31-million-hectare state forest fund as having potential for carbon projects, opening new opportunities for investors in emissions reduction and carbon absorption projects, Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev said. “This opens new opportunities for investors to participate in...

In just two months, the number of companies with Uzbek and Chinese participation in Kazakhstan almost doubles, reports LS.

As of 1 August 2026, 54,000 foreign companies operate in the country. This is 9,400, or 21%, more than on 1 June.

The increase in the number of companies involving Uzbekistan is particularly...

Structural indicators of Kazakhstan's external debt have decreased in recent years, including external public debt. However, this did not occur because Kazakh issuers lacked appeal for foreign investors. The rise in the non-resident share among holders of Kazakh government securities from 2% to nearly 8% between 2024 and 2026 demonstrates...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan plans to expand information collection regarding payment operations bearing fraud indicators. To achieve this, the regulator intends to introduce new reporting forms and receive existing data streams more frequently.

One major innovation addresses fraudulent transactions. The National Bank proposes introducing two administrative data reporting forms. One...

Net debt at KazMunayGas increases nearly threefold. In the first half of the year, this figure reaches 983 billion tenge (compared to 375 billion tenge in the corresponding period of 2025), representing an increase of 162.2%.

"The increase is driven by a reduction in cash held as deposits, primarily short-term, which...

The National Bank of Kazakhstan tightens reporting requirements for payment services. The regulator plans to step up monitoring of relevant operations and introduce new reporting streams for transactions displaying fraud indicators.

The document provides for a transition to more frequent data collection and separate monthly reporting on fraudulent payments, including operations...

The Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market supplements existing prudential norms with a new metric: the minimum requirement for total loss-absorbing capacity instruments.

The total loss-absorbing capacity mechanism will apply to systemically important banks. The classification of a bank as systemically important is determined jointly by the National...

                   Average weighted rate, Trend,      Volume,         Trend,      Best      Best

Instrument               currency      currency      th.units       th.units       bid       ask

AEDKZT_TOM                      -             -             -              -  125.8800  125.0800

CNYKZT_TOM                68.3419       -0.1928     19,400.00     -33,600.51   68.5580   68.1000

EURKZT_TOM                 533.82         -1.80      1,685.72        +125.80    535.31    531.26

EURUSD_TOM                 1.1572       -0.0018      3,300.00      -3,770.00    1.1579    1.1567

RUBKZT_TOM                 5.4044       -0.0225  2,218,940.00...

KASE Index calculation basis according to trade results

            Last price, tenge per share*     Change          Weight

Ticker        Aug 18, 2026  Aug 17, 2026          %               %

AIRA                718.14        701.00       +2.4            11.0

CCBN              4,847.39      4,860.42       -0.3            12.9

HSBK                392.02        406.99       -3.7            13.0

KCEL              3,201.01      3,207.71       -0.2            12.7

KEGC              1,426.01      1,432.00       -0.4             4.3

KMGZ             34,790.06     34,928.91       -0.4            12.9

KSPI             44,868.00     46,040.05       -2.5            13.6

KZAP...

An oil tanker managed by a Greek company suffered an attack in the Russian sector of the Black Sea.

The incident occurred near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, through which a significant portion of Kazakhstan's export oil passes.

The tanker suffered the attack on Sunday 16 August after loading a consignment of...

KazMunayGas profit in the first half of 2026 increases by 69% to 904 billion tenge. The rise in profit and revenue of the company stems from the increase in the price of oil, even while production figures, including oil and gas output, decline, economist Arman Batayev notes on his channel.

According...

According to the results of January to June 2026, the net profit of National Company KazMunayGas reaches 904 billion tenge. This is 69.1% more than in the same period last year.

The company explains that the growth in net profit stems from an increase in revenue under contracts with customers, a...

Kazakhstan’s oil sector experienced a period of lower production in the first seven months of 2026, with production falling 8.9% to 53.2 million tons amid disruptions at the Tengiz field and the country’s main export route through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). Yet the decline in production has not translated...

OPEC+, the enlarged cartel which includes Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, approved a modest production increase in early August, completing the planned restoration of the output cuts introduced in 2023. That is the supply-side offset to the geopolitical premium, and it is now exhausted. The significance is what it removes rather...

The Kazakh copper industry shifts to a new stage. Against the backdrop of growing global demand for strategic metals, the Government increases appropriations for geological exploration, digitalisation of subsoil data, and the development of high value added products in the mining and metallurgical complex.

This development path for non ferrous metallurgy...

The Spetspostavka Absolyut company plans to conduct exploration for rare, non ferrous, and precious metals within the Korday area in the Zhambyl province. This is reported in the materials for hearings that take place at the end of August. The geological exploration site is situated 30 km from the district...

The Spetspostavka Absolyut company seeks to conduct exploration for rare, non ferrous, and precious metals within the Korday area. At the beginning of 2026, Chinese company Xiamen Wanli Stone announces that it will buy this company.

The exploration site sits 30 kilometres from the district centre, the village of Korday in...

On 18 August in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhmys and a consortium of companies of the China National Chemical Engineering Company group sign an agreement for the implementation of the project for the construction of a new sulphuric acid workshop of the Zhezkazgan Copper Smelter.

Participation in the signing ceremony is taken by Chairman...

Green energy in Kazakhstan adds 212 MW of capacity. In 2026, the country has commissioned seven renewable energy facilities, with wind and solar power plants launching across multiple regions.

In total, the commissioning of 10 renewable energy facilities with an aggregate installed capacity of 245 MW is planned for this year....

While the prevalent discourse in the 20th century centered on the importance of oil pipelines, gaining access to oil reserves and spotlighting countries controlling energy supplies ranging from OPEC states to European giants such as Norway for economic resilience, the current, global, geopolitical environment points to a new trend. 

Supply side...

A mining and processing plant involving a company from Turkey will be built in the Abai province. Details were announced by the regional municipality.

In response to an editorial enquiry, it is reported that a land plot has already been allocated for the implementation of the project. The issue was considered...

Kazakhstan's exports increased by 8.6% to reach $40.3 billion in January to June 2026. Deliveries to external markets outpace imports, the trade surplus approached $9 billion, and Kazakh goods strengthened their positions across China, Turkey, France, and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, imports grew by 5.4% to $31.5 billion. Consequently, Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover...

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) upgrades its wheat production forecast for Kazakhstan due to higher yields driven by favourable weather conditions in key grain-growing regions. This, in turn, enables the republic to increase exports in the 2026/27 trade year. Higher supply and export volumes from Kazakhstan will become...

By 17 August, Kazakh agricultural producers have harvested 2.6 million hectares of grain crops, twice as much as during the same period last year.

The average yield reached 14.6 centners per hectare, the Government reported.

The mass harvesting campaign began on 15 August in all major agricultural regions of the country. A...

ATO Shcherbaktinskiy Elevator generated 9.6 million tenge in profit in 2025. The grain storage facility and milling complex belong to Russian citizen Piran Akhmedov.

ATO Shcherbaktinskiy Elevator posted a profit of 9.6 million tenge in 2025 following a loss of 32.8 million tenge a year earlier. Company revenue fell by 44%...

On 1 January 2027, the ST RK national standard enters into force in Kazakhstan, establishing unified technical requirements for industrial manufacturing of organic fertilisers. The document regulates the processing of livestock and poultry waste, tightens veterinary and sanitary standards for manufactured products, bans pathogenic microflora, and sets limits on heavy...

Following the completion of the submarine communication cable across the Caspian seabed, Kazakhstan will establish itself as the largest data transit hub for all of Asia.

Thanks to its geographic location in the centre of Eurasia and the completion of the 380-kilometre Trans-Caspian fibre-optic line across the Caspian seabed, Kazakhstan secures...

Kazakhstan's trade turnover in non-resource goods with global partners reached $43.9 billion during January to June 2026. Compared with the same period last year, the indicator grew by 7.6%, or $3.1 billion. Domestic enterprises supplied $15.2 billion worth of manufactured goods to external markets, representing a 17.6% increase year-on-year. Turkey,...

Since the start of 2026, 7.5 million passengers have travelled on trains operated by the national carrier.

Almaty led in passenger departures, surpassing Astana.

According to Passenger Transportation JSC, 1.2 million passengers departed from Almaty stations. Astana registered 1 million departures, and Shymkent recorded 467,000 passengers.

Substantial passenger traffic was also recorded at...

Kazakhstan Railways cancelled an order banning petroleum product exports from mini refineries, according to a company announcement.

"Pursuant to the ruling of the Main Transport Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 7 August 2026, Order No. 1446 dated 8 July 2026 is repealed upon receipt," the Kazakhstan Railways order...

First Deputy Prime Minister Nurlybek Nalibayev held a meeting to discuss road transport sector. The meeting brought together representatives of the ministries of transport, finance, national economy, justice, the Border Service of the National Security Committee, KazAvtoZhol JSC, and contracting organizations.

Discussions focused on the implementation of the Center-West project, modernization...

In the first six months of 2026, the port of Kuryk handled 884.8 thousand tonnes of cargo, confirming steady demand for port services and its vital role in developing the Trans Caspian International Transport Route. The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports this development.

Within the cargo turnover...

President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev proposed establishing a Kazakhstan Russia digital transport corridor during a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

"We propose launching a pilot Kazakhstan Russia digital transport corridor on one of the heaviest traffic routes," Tokayev stated.

According to him, efficient digital integration between the two states and...

The practical scientific conference "Preserving the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development", dedicated to Caspian Sea Day, took place in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. Pyotr Shchukin, Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Turkmenistan, attended the forum.

In his address, the Russian diplomat emphasised the...

While Rosatom shapes a new economic landscape along southern corridors, major exporters hesitate to abandon traditional logistics routes. Logistics expert Aleksandr Sharov examines the factors behind this regional paradox.

When Western sanctions restricted familiar markets and Middle Eastern conflicts disrupted trade routes, the Caspian Sea became Russia's central commercial corridor.

High expectations...

Revenue from passenger transportation earned by road and municipal electric transport enterprises in Kazakhstan continues to grow. For January to July 2026, earnings reached 303.1 billion tenge, marking a 13.9% annual increase. In real terms, growth stood at 6.1% (physical volume index: 106.1%). Passenger transit generated 24.8% of all revenue...

Kazakh citizens increasingly acquire vehicles using bank loans. Alongside car finance market expansion, problem debt volumes grow as well.

According to the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, car loans in Kazakhstan grew by 42.4% during 2025 to reach 4 trillion tenge. Overdue liabilities approached 240 billion tenge....

Kazakhstan establishes the Centre for Forecasting Criminal Threats and Public Safety Risks.

The new entity provides round the clock crime analysis, identifies vulnerabilities, and formulates prevention measures, Prosecutor General Berik Asylov announces.

Collaborating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and regional municipalities, the centre utilizes artificial intelligence and drone technology to evaluate...

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence prompt reassessments of university education values. Despite wide knowledge accessibility and automation, higher education remains necessary. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek explains the competencies universities build beyond technical training, reports Kapital.kz.

During a government media briefing, journalists ask whether higher education retains relevance...

Kazakhstan introduces artificial intelligence tools into 2,600 small rural schools. Authorities deploy modern educational technologies to narrow the educational quality divide between urban and rural areas.

Initial schools receive connections starting 1 September 2026. The programme subsequently expands across 500 institutions, aiming to cover all small rural schools across the country...

In September, the rental housing season traditionally starts in major cities across Kazakhstan, as students arrive in urban centres ahead of the new academic year. The influx of youth from other towns creates an annual surge in demand for rental flats, hostels, and non-student dormitories. Can this increased demand influence...

Foreign companies completed construction work worth 464.2 billion tenge in Kazakhstan during January to July 2026. This emerges from data provided by the Bureau of National Statistics.

In total, the volume of completed construction work and services in the country over the seven months stood at 5.061 trillion tenge. This indicates...

Updated operating rules for outpatient clinics have taken effect in Kazakhstan. A public perception emerged that patients could now book appointments with specialised consultants directly, without a referral from a district doctor. The Ministry of Healthcare clarified the actual operation of the system.

The ministry emphasised that the general practitioner remains...

The current account surplus of the Russian Federation for the first half of this year reached $34.1 billion, which is 1.7 times higher than the figure for the same period in 2025, the Bank of Russia reported. The increase in the surplus occurred in the second quarter, when Russian exports...

The Russian stock market exhibits substantial morning gains on Tuesday, 18 August, contrasting with the previous session, amid elevated trading volumes and an absence of major domestic triggers. At 14:45 Moscow time, the Moscow Exchange Index gains 2.77%, reaching 2,149.84 points.

Evgeny Loktyukhov, Head of Industry and Financial Market Analysis at...

Transport and logistics companies Bite Transit and Shuttle Logistic record growth in freight flows from China to Russia in the first half of 2026 relative to the same period last year, alongside increased dispatch frequencies.

Bite Transit informed Interfax that shipments from China to online retailers grew by 15%, accounting for...

The Russian Federation and China expand cooperation in agricultural science across multiple sectors. In crop cultivation, this includes plans to establish a specialized soybean research centre, Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut announced.

"Discussions are underway regarding projects across four core areas. The primary focus is crop cultivation, which underpins agriculture, alongside...

The Chinese economy approaches a structural inflection point: further export acceleration risks outstripping global absorption capacity and triggering trade tensions, according to an analysis of the country's dependence on industrial manufacturing and external markets.

Over the past two decades, China's trade surplus reached historic highs, standing at nearly $1.2 trillion in...

Date: August 19, 2026; Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: August 19, 2026; Source: the National Bank of Kazakhstan