Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the world, with a population of 19.8 million and GDP of USD 11.5 thousand. Malaysia has established a good trade relationship with Kazakhstan and total trade valued with Kazakhstan was valued at 48.8 million in 2022. Kazakhstan was Malaysia’s 97^th largest trading partner and 84^th largest export destination.

There is a demand for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) in the Kazakhstan market, particularly halal products. The top Malaysian products in the Kazakhstan FMCG market are instant coffee, condensed milk and chips. The Kazakhstan halal market is a developing market, but there is a lack of regulation due to unavailability of full-fledged regulatory bodies. There is also a lack of relevant certification legislation.

Strong competition with Russia, China, Turkey and other countries are one of the main challenges of doing business with Kazakhstan. Shipment cost is also high due to Kazakhstan’s geographical position, as there is no direct access to the sea port. Besides that, the shipping duration to Kazakhstan takes a considerable amount of time, and could take up to four months to reach the Central Asian language.

The current development of the Russian and Ukraine conflict has affected business with Kazakhstan as well. There is a currency devaluation of 12 percent, and food prices have increased by 24.1 percent. Moreover, there is a disruption of traditional logistics chains.

Malaysian businesses who are interested in exporting to Kazakhstan can reach out to MATRADE for enquiries and assistance.

For enquiries, please contact:

MATRADE Almaty
38 Dostyk ave, Business Center “Ken Dala”,
7th floor, Almaty, Kazakhstan

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: +7 (727) 232 1582

References
Matrade Webinar (Tapping into the Greenfield Market of Kazakhstan)