According to the latest data from China’s General Administration of Customs in 2025, China’s exports to the five Central Asian countries achieved remarkable results, totaling US$71.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 11%. Among these exports, electromechanical products and high-tech products held an absolute dominant position, with the “new three items” (electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar cells) showing particularly strong growth momentum.
China has consistently held the position of the largest source of imports from the five Central Asian countries for many years, with Kazakhstan (largest exporter) and Uzbekistan being core markets.
Six Major Product Categories Favored
Automobiles and Vehicles (including new energy vehicles): Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are major importers of this category, with Chinese brands having a very high penetration rate in these two countries. Taking Kazakhstan as an example, in 2024, sales of new energy vehicles increased by 243% year-on-year, and the export value of complete vehicles exceeded US$1 billion.
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan also list automobiles as their primary import. This is mainly due to the rapid urbanization process in Central Asia, leading to a large demand for transportation upgrades, while Chinese automobiles offer high cost-performance, meeting the needs of the local market.
Mechanical and Electrical Products & Construction Machinery Equipment (HS Categories 84-85): In official statistics, “mechanical and electrical products” account for the largest share, encompassing generators, excavators, cranes, concrete mixers, agricultural machinery, etc.
Road repair and mining projects in Kazakhstan, and infrastructure construction in Uzbekistan, all generate significant demand for Chinese mechanical and electrical equipment and construction machinery.
This category is the core import category for the five Central Asian countries, strongly supporting local industrialization and the Belt and Road Initiative projects.
Electronic Products & Communication Equipment (Computers, Mobile Phones, Telephones, Smart Devices): The top three imported items for Kazakhstan are computers, telephones, and electronic products. Kyrgyzstan, as a transshipment hub, imports a large quantity of electronic products before reselling them to neighboring regions.
Meanwhile, smart home and smart security devices are experiencing rapid growth, with an annual market growth rate between 13% and 19%. “High-tech products” are showing strong overall growth.
Textiles, Apparel, Footwear and Accessories: Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan import large quantities of these products, including clothing, underwear, sportswear, and children’s wear. Kazakhstan’s textile and apparel market generates nearly $600 million in annual revenue, with Chinese products dominating the market. “Clothing and accessories” also rank among Kyrgyzstan’s top exports.
Building materials, decorative materials, and metal products (steel, cement, doors and windows, paint, hardware, PVC pipes, etc.): Kazakhstan plans to build 200,000 new homes, with 80% of the building materials imported from China. Demand for construction machinery is also growing. Industrial development in Uzbekistan (such as the Yanji Avlod project) has also driven significant demand for related products.
“New Three Essentials” + Smart Home/Consumer Goods (Lithium Batteries, Solar Panels, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Smart Appliances, Baby Products): New energy vehicles, home solar systems, smart locks/appliances, and baby products (diapers, clothing, etc.) are the fastest-growing categories. Kazakhstan’s smart home market is projected to grow by 13.83% in 2024, while local production capacity for baby products is only 21%, indicating a significant market gap.
