Foreign trade

A map of Kazakhstan's imports,

2013
Kazakhstan's increased role in global trade and central positioning on the new Silk
Road gave the country the potential to open its markets to billions of people.[158] Kazakhstan
joined the World Trade Organization in 2015.[159]
Kazakhstan's foreign trade turnover in 2018 was $93.5 billion, which is 19.7 percent more
than in 2017. Export in 2018 reached $67 billion (up 25.7 percent in comparison to 2017)
and import was $32.5 billion (up 9.9 percent in comparison to 2017).[160] Exports accounted
for 40.1 percent of Kazakhstan's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018. Kazakhstan
exports 800 products to 120 countries.[161]
Agriculture
Main article: Agriculture in Kazakhstan

Grain fields near Kökşetau

Agriculture accounts for approximately 5 percent of Kazakhstan's GDP.[91] Grain, potatoes,
grapes, vegetables, melons and livestock are the most important agricultural commodities.
Agricultural land occupies more than 846,000 square kilometres (327,000 sq mi). The
available agricultural land consists of 205,000 km2 (79,000 sq mi) of arable land and
611,000 km2 (236,000 sq mi) of pasture and hay land. Over 80 percent of the country's total
area is classified as agricultural land, including almost 70 percent occupied by pasture. Its
arable land has the second highest availability per inhabitant (1.5 hectares).[162]
Chief livestock products are dairy products, leather, meat, and wool. The country's major
crops include wheat, barley, cotton, and rice. Wheat exports, a major source of hard
currency, rank among the leading commodities in Kazakhstan's export trade. In 2003
Kazakhstan harvested 17.6 million tons of grain in gross, 2.8% higher compared to 2002.
Kazakhstani agriculture still has many environmental problems from mismanagement
during its years in the Soviet Union. Some Kazakh wine is produced in the mountains to the
east of Almaty.[163]
Energy
 Kazakhstan has the largest proven oil reserves in the
Caspian Sea region. [citation needed]

Energy has been the leading economic sector. Production of crude oil and natural gas
condensate from the oil and gas basins of Kazakhstan amounted to 79.2 million tonnes
(77.9 million long tons; 87.3 million short tons) in 2012 up from 51.2 million tonnes
(50.4 million long tons; 56.4 million short tons) in 2003. Kazakhstan raised oil and gas
condensate exports to 44.3 million tons in 2003, 13 percent higher than in 2002. Gas
production in Kazakhstan in 2003, amounted to 13.9 billion cubic metres (490 billion cubic
feet), up 22.7 percent compared to 2002, including natural gas production of 7.3 billion
cubic metres (260 billion cubic feet). Kazakhstan holds about 4 billion tonnes (3.9 billion
long tons; 4.4 billion short tons) of proven recoverable oil reserves and 2,000 cubic
kilometres (480 cubic miles) of gas. Kazakhstan is the 19th largest oil-producing nation in
the world.[164] Kazakhstan's oil exports in 2003, were valued at more than $7 billion,
representing 65 percent of overall exports and 24 percent of the GDP. Major oil and gas
fields and recoverable oil reserves are Tengiz with 7 billion barrels (1.1 billion cubic
metres); Karachaganak with 8 billion barrels (1.3 billion cubic metres) and 1,350 cubic
kilometres (320 cubic miles) of natural gas; and Kashagan with 7 to 9 billion barrels
(1.4 billion cubic metres).
KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company, was created in 2002 to represent
the interests of the state in the oil and gas industry. The Tengiz Field was jointly developed
in 1993 as a 40-year Tengizchevroil venture between Chevron Texaco (50 percent),
US ExxonMobil (25 percent), KazMunayGas (20 percent), and LukArco (5
percent).[165] The Karachaganak natural gas and gas condensate field is being developed
by BG, Agip, ChevronTexaco, and Lukoil.[166] Also Chinese oil companies are involved in
Kazakhstan's oil industry.[167]
Kazakhstan launched the Green Economy Plan in 2013. It committed Kazakhstan to meet
50 percent of its energy needs from alternative and renewable sources by 2050.[168] The
green economy was projected to increase GDP by 3 percent and create some 500,000
jobs.[169] The government set prices for energy produced from renewable sources. The price
of 1 kilowatt-hour for energy produced by wind power plants was set at 22.68 tenge
($0.12), for 1 kilowatt-hour produced by small hydro-power plants 16.71 tenges ($0.09),
and from biogas plants 32.23 tenges ($0.18).[170]
Infrastructure
Main articles: Transport in Kazakhstan and Telecommunications in Kazakhstan
 Map of Kazakhstan railway network

Train 22 Kyzylorda – Semipalatinsk, hauled by a

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy 2TE10U diesel locomotive. Picture taken near Aynabulak,
Kazakhstan.
Railways provide 68 percent of all cargo and passenger traffic to over 57 percent of the
country. There are 15,333 km (9,527 mi) in common carrier service, excluding industrial
lines.[171]15,333 km (9,527 mi) of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27Ú32 in) gauge, 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
electrified, in 2012.[171] Most cities are connected by railroad; high-speed trains go
from Almaty (the southernmost city) to Petropavl (the northernmost city) in about 18 hours.
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) is the national railway company. KTZ cooperates with
French locomotive manufacturer Alstom in developing Kazakhstan's railway infrastructure.
As of 2018, Alstom has more than 600 staff and two joint ventures with KTZ and its
subsidiary in Kazakhstan.[172] In July 2017, Alstom opened its first locomotive repairing
centre in Kazakhstan. It is the only repairing centre in Central Asia and the
Caucasus.[173] Astana Nurly Zhol railway station, the most modern railway station in
Kazakhstan, was opened in Astana on 31 May 2017. According to Kazakhstan Railways
(KTZ), the 120,000m2 station was expected to be used by 54 trains and would have the
capacity to handle 35,000 passengers a day.[174]
There is a small 8.56 km (5.32 mi) metro system in Almaty. Second and third metro lines
were planned for the future. The second line would intersect with the first line
at Alatau and Zhibek Zholy stations.[175] The Astana Metro system has been under
construction, but was abandoned at one point in 2013.[176] In May 2015, an agreement was
signed for the project to be resumed.[177] There is an 86 km (53 mi) tram network, which
began service in 1965 with, as of 2012, 20 regular and three special routes.[178]
The Khorgos Gateway dry port is one of Kazakhstan's primary dry ports for handling trans-
Eurasian trains, which travel more than 9,000 km (5,600 mi) between China and Europe.
The Khorgos Gateway dry port is surrounded by Khorgos Eastern Gate SEZ which officially
commenced operations in December 2016.[179]
In 2009, the European Commission blacklisted all Kazakh air carriers with a sole exception
of Air Astana.[180] Thereafter, Kazakhstan took measures to modernise and revamp its air
safety oversight. In 2016 the European air safety authorities removed all Kazakh airlines
from the blacklist, saying there was "sufficient evidence of compliance" with international
standards by Kazakh Airlines and the Civil Aviation Committee.[181]