China has cemented its dominance in Central Asia, with trade turnover in 2024 rising nearly 5% to $94.8 billion, surpassing Russia as the region’s top economic partner. The vast majority of trade ($64.2 billion) flowed from China, consisting of goods such as natural resources, rare earths, and precious metals, while Kyrgyzstan saw an extraordinary 3,270% growth in exports to China.
Kazakhstan led with $43.8 billion in trade, but nations like Uzbekistan and Tajikistan saw slight declines in trade volumes with China, with imports vastly outweighing exports. Interestingly, Turkmenistan stood out with a trade surplus of $8.6 billion.
Meanwhile, China’s influence spread to the Caucasus, where trade increased by 22% in 2024, totaling $6.5 billion, heavily favoring China. Azerbaijan and Armenia recorded surging imports from China, while their exports stagnated. Georgia saw moderate growth but struggled with a modest $276 million in exports to China.
