Kazakhstan's Manufacturing and Construction Sectors Show Strong Growth in Q1 2026

Kazakhstan's Minister of Industry and Construction, Yersain Nagaspayev, reported significant growth in the country's manufacturing and construction sectors during the first quarter of 2026. The announcement was made at a government meeting reviewing socio-economic development results for January through March.

The manufacturing industry demonstrated robust performance, achieving an overall growth rate of 8.5%. Several key sectors within manufacturing posted particularly impressive figures. Machine building led the way with a surge of 21.9%, while light industry saw an extraordinary increase of 51.1%. Production of building materials grew by 37.1%, and output of rubber and plastic products rose by 26.9%. The chemical industry also expanded, albeit at a more moderate pace of 2.4%.

Minister Nagaspayev emphasized that this positive trend aligns with the President's directives to develop higher value-added manufacturing and boost exports. The Ministry plans to sustain this growth momentum by launching new production facilities, increasing localization levels, and actively stimulating investment activity across the country's regions.

The construction sector also maintained a steady upward trajectory in the first three months of the year. The volume of construction work increased by 14.8% compared to the same period last year, reaching approximately 1.2 trillion tenge.

In terms of housing, Kazakhstan commissioned 3.9 million square meters of new residential space in Q1 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.8%. Growth was recorded in 18 regions nationwide, with the Abai Region showing the most significant rise at 41.3%, followed by the Karaganda Region (26%) and Shymkent city (14.7%).