BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 14. Kazakhstan's
real GDP growth stood at 4.1% in January-August 2026, remaining at
this level for the third consecutive month, the Kazakh government
said.


The figure was announced at a meeting of the headquarters for
ensuring economic growth chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, where preliminary
economic results for the first eight months of 2026 were
reviewed.


Economic growth continues to be driven primarily by the
non-resource sector, the government said.


Manufacturing output increased by 8.4%. The highest growth rates
were recorded in machinery manufacturing (21.2%), chemicals
(27.3%), food production (12.9%), finished metal products (33.3%),
pharmaceuticals (38.9%), rubber and plastic products (18.5%), light
industry (70.4%) and construction materials (7%). Overall
industrial production grew by 2.6%.


Significant growth was also recorded in construction (15.6%),
transport and warehousing (7.3%), trade (6%), agriculture (5.2%)
and communications (4.4%).


The meeting also reviewed developments in major manufacturing
industries. Metallurgical enterprises are currently operating at
90%-100% of capacity. Despite the high capacity utilization, output
in ferrous metallurgy increased by 2%, driven by higher production
of pig iron and steel.


Machinery manufacturing grew by 21.2% in January-August,
supported partly by a 27.7% increase in automotive production,
including passenger cars, buses, trucks and special-purpose
vehicles.







In rolling stock manufacturing, production of passenger cars and
platforms increased, while output of freight gondola cars and
locomotives declined. Zhumangarin instructed officials to hold a
separate meeting to examine the reasons for the decline and
identify measures to maintain growth in machinery
manufacturing.


“Metallurgy accounts for more than 40% of manufacturing.
Therefore, growth rates in metallurgy are particularly important
for manufacturing growth. It is equally important to maintain the
momentum in machinery manufacturing, the second-largest
manufacturing sector. We will pay close attention to these areas
through the end of the year,” Zhumangarin said.


Agriculture recorded growth of 5.2% in January-August, marking
the third consecutive month of accelerating growth. The figure rose
from 5% in January-July and 4.4% in January-June.


The government attributed the increase largely to seasonal
factors, including the peak of the harvest campaign and the arrival
of the new crop. Food production also recorded significant growth
of 12.9%.


In the oil and gas sector, oil production is gradually
recovering. The physical volume index stood at 91.6% in
January-August, with 61.7 million tons of oil produced, compared
with 91.1% and 53.2 million tons in January-July.