Central Asian economies show industrial and retail growth

Central Asian economies report diverse shifts in industrial and consumer activity for 2026. In Kazakhstan, the National Bank maintained its 2026 inflation forecast at 9–11% but raised the 2027 outlook to 6.5–8.5% due to external inflation and fiscal impulses. Simultaneously, Kazakhstan’s manufacturing sector saw significant growth, with vehicle production increasing and manufacturing output reaching 18.8 trillion tenge, surpassing mining's share of total output for the first time.

Uzbekistan reported a 7.9% increase in industrial production for the first seven months of 2026, totaling 795.4 trillion soums, driven largely by a 9% rise in manufacturing. In Tajikistan, retail trade turnover experienced a sharp surge, reaching 38.3 billion somoni in the first half of 2026, a 35.9% increase compared to the previous year, signaling strengthened domestic demand.

In Azerbaijan, the price of Azeri Light crude rose by approximately 3%, reaching $104.98 per barrel at Italy’s Augusta port and $102.19 at Türkiye’s Ceyhan port.