China's Trade with Central Asia Hits $94.8 Billion in 2024

China's trade with Central Asian nations reached $94.8 billion in 2024, marking a $5.4 billion increase from 2023, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

Kazakhstan leads regional trade with China, accounting for 46% of the total at $43.8 billion, Zakon.kz reports. 

The remaining trade volume is distributed among:

• Kyrgyzstan: $22.7 billion (24%)
• Uzbekistan: $13.7 billion (14.5%)
• Turkmenistan: $10.6 billion (11%)
• Tajikistan: $3.8 billion (4%)

Year-over-year trade increased with Kazakhstan ($2.8 billion), Kyrgyzstan ($2.9 billion), and Turkmenistan ($57 million).

However, trade decreased with Tajikistan ($65 million) and Uzbekistan ($260 million).

Statistical Discrepancies

Significant discrepancies exist between Chinese and Central Asian national statistics.

According to Asia Plus, Tajikistan's statistical agency reports bilateral trade at approximately $1.96 billion - half of what Chinese statistics show.

Similar disparities exist with other countries: 

All cargo sent from China is declared as exports to Kyrgyzstan. However, a significant portion is transit cargo destined for other countries, leading to statistical discrepancies, explained Azamat Dzhumabekov, head of the Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce's transport committee.

Tajik customs officials attribute the difference to varying methodologies:

Former Soviet states use a methodology approved by mutual agreement, while China employs an entirely different methodology, they stated.

They also note that equipment brought by Chinese construction companies for projects in Tajikistan is counted as Chinese exports but not Tajik imports due to its temporary import status.