flag Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Kyrgyzstan is open to international trade, which accounts for 83% 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 gold (53%), other precious metals (6.5%), vegetables (3.3%), and petroleum oils (2.4%); whereas imports are led by petroleum oils (12 %), medicaments (5.3%), telephones (3.9%), and petroleum gas (1.8% - data Comtrade).

The main trading partners for exports are the United Kingdom (53.1%), Kazakhstan (12.3%), Russia (11.7%), Uzbekistan (8.2%), and Turkey (3.7%). Kyrgyzstan's main import origins are Russia (32.2%), China (21.7%), Kazakhstan (12.8%), Turkey (5.7 %), and Uzbekistan (5.6%). 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 average tariff applied is 2.3% and customs duties are limited to a maximum rate of 10%. 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 2020, the country exported USD 2 billion worth of goods (same as the previous year), whereas imports contracted by 26%, to USD 3.7 billion. In the same year, the exports of services totalled USD 439 million, against USD 555 million of imports (both indexes were down by more than 50% year-on-year). The overall external balance was negative by 20.3% of GDP (down from 28.9% one year earlier – World Bank). According to preliminary data released by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade turnover reached USD 6.8 billion – 19.5% more than in 2020.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20172018201920202021
Imports of Goods (million USD) 4,4955,2924,9893,6885,570
Exports of Goods (million USD) 1,7641,8371,9862,0061,659
Imports of Services (million USD) 9019461,006555711
Exports of Services (million USD) 8168131,080439522
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 776-2839
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 6-316-2725
Trade Balance (million USD) -2,410-2,994-2,624-1,440-2,350
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 101999983108
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 6667645269
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 3432353139

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2021
Kazakhstan 25.5%
Russia 22.9%
United Kingdom 13.9%
Uzbekistan 10.7%
Türkiye 5.3%
See More Countries 21.7%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2021
Russia 32.8%
China 26.8%
Kazakhstan 12.0%
Türkiye 5.9%
Uzbekistan 5.8%
See More Countries 16.7%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

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Main Products

1.7 bn USD of products exported in 2021
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 18.2%
Float glass and surface ground or polished glass,...Float glass and surface ground or polished glass, in sheets, whether or not having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked 11.0%
Precious-metal ores and concentratesPrecious-metal ores and concentrates 5.9%
Dried leguminous vegetables, shelled, whether or...Dried leguminous vegetables, shelled, whether or not skinned or split 4.0%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 4.0%
See More Products 56.7%
5.5 bn USD of products imported in 2021
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 12.6%
Knitted or crocheted fabrics, of a width > 30 cm,...Knitted or crocheted fabrics, of a width > 30 cm, containing by weight >= 5% of elastomeric yarn or rubber thread (excl. pile fabrics, incl. "long pile", looped pile fabrics, labels, badges and similar articles, and knitted or crocheted fabrics, impregnated, coated, covered or laminated) 3.6%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 3.0%
Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular...Telephone sets, incl. telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, incl. apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network [such as a local or wide area network]; parts thereof (excl. than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528) 2.8%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.7%
See More Products 75.2%

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

 

To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows

 
 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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Commercial Policy

International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Member of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Member of Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC)

Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
6.7%
 
 

Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of World Trade Organisation
International Economic Cooperation
Member of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Member of Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC)

Useful Resources
National Organisation of Intellectual Property
The State Intellectual Property Service of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzpatent).
 
 
 

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Latest Update: February 2023