Kazakhstan's export to Customs Union lowered in 2012

Kazakhstan’s export to the Customs Union member-states went down in 2012, Tengrinews.kz reports citing head of Kazakhstan Statistics Agency Alikhan Smailov. “Overall, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover increased this January-August. It made almost $90 billion and grew 13.5 percent. But the turnover with the Customs Union has seen a certain decrease. It made $4.5 billion in January-August, which is 12 percent less than in the same period last year,” Smailov said. According to him, a major decrease was registered in metallurgic goods export. There is some growth in other sectors. Explaining the reason of the export drop Head of the statistics agency said: “This is related to a decrease in demand for metallurgic goods in foreign markets, i.e. the market has narrowed. As a result, the export of metallurgic goods from Kazakhstan to all countries, including Russia, also decreased. This in turn caused the exports to the Customs Union countries to decrease. Some of our major metallurgic companies cut their production volumes because of the decreased foreign demand. This was especially true for ores, iron concentrates and flat-rolled iron (Arcelor Mittal), ores and chrome concentrates (KazChrome),” head of the statistics agency said. By Aidana Ussupova