Central Asia’s industrial output grows in 2026, led by Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

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Industrial production continued to expand across Central Asia in the first half of 2026, with Tajikistan recording the fastest growth at 14.1%, followed by Kyrgyzstan at 12.7% and Uzbekistan at 8%, while Kazakhstan grew 3.5%. The figures come from a review by Uzbekistan’s Center for Economic Research and Reforms covering four regional economies, as comparable public data for Turkmenistan was unavailable.

Uzbekistan’s industrial production reached $53bn in value terms, with growth accelerating from 6.6% in the first half of 2025 to 8% in the same period of 2026. Manufacturing was the main driver, expanding 8.8%, compared with 7.1% a year earlier. Its share of total industrial production increased from 85% to 86%. Mining grew more slowly at 2.1%, while electricity, gas and air-conditioning supply expanded 7.9%. Water supply, waste collection and disposal recorded the fastest growth among these sectors at 15.9%.

Several manufacturing industries posted particularly strong growth in Uzbekistan. Production of other machinery and equipment increased 1.6-fold, while wood processing grew 48%, computer and electronic equipment 37%, furniture 31%, pharmaceuticals 22% and automobiles 20%. Food production rose 12%, textiles 10.1% and construction materials 12%. At the same time, primary metals remained the largest industrial segment, accounting for 29% of total production, although its output grew by only 1.3%.

Kazakhstan recorded 3.5% industrial growth, with production valued at $71bn. The country’s mining sector declined 4%, including an 8.3% drop in oil and gas extraction. As mining accounts for almost 46% of Kazakhstan’s industrial production, its decline weighed on overall industrial growth.

Manufacturing, however, grew 9.8% and reached $33bn, slightly exceeding the output of the mining sector. Textile production increased 2.5-fold, pharmaceuticals grew 43.6%, fabricated metal products 39.9%, machinery repair and installation 34.7% and automobile production 31.6%. Overall, the machinery sector expanded 23.1%.

Kyrgyzstan’s industrial production increased 12.7% to $5.2bn. Mining grew 12.8%, mainly due to higher extraction of metal ores and other minerals, while manufacturing rose 15.1% and accounted for 79.1% of total industrial output. Primary metallurgy remained the country’s largest industrial segment, representing 48.7% of production, with output increasing 12.2% after declining 2.2% a year earlier. Chemical production nearly tripled, while pharmaceutical output rose 83%, petroleum refining 70%, transport equipment 41% and construction materials 33%.

Tajikistan recorded the fastest industrial growth among the four countries, at 14.1%, with production valued at around $3.6bn. However, the pace slowed from 24% in the first half of 2025. Manufacturing was particularly strong, growing 26% and increasing its share of total industrial production from 47% to 52%. Electricity, gas and air-conditioning supply expanded 16.8%, with electricity generation rising 17.1%. The country’s mining sector, by contrast, contracted 6.7%, driven by declines of 7.4% in metal ore extraction and 41.9% in oil and gas production.

Across the four economies, manufacturing grew faster than overall industrial production, pointing to a gradual shift toward processing and higher-value production. This difference was especially pronounced in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, where manufacturing expanded despite contractions in mining.

The review also highlighted strong growth in automobile production across the region, with output increasing by more than 30% in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and by around 20% in Uzbekistan.

Despite the expansion of manufacturing, raw materials and primary processing remain important to the region’s industrial structures. Metals account for 28.7% of Uzbekistan’s industrial production and 20.4% of Kazakhstan’s, while primary metallurgy alone represents almost half of Kyrgyzstan’s industrial output.

Industrial investment also remained significant. Industry accounted for 47% of total investment in Uzbekistan, 41% in Kazakhstan, 35% in Tajikistan and 17% in Kyrgyzstan.