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Kazakhstan

Open in the explorerOrganisations (15)Events

Production, refining and reserves

CommodityMetricValueWorld rank · shareSource
CopperMine production 2025710,000 t Cu content#10 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
CopperRefinery production 2025500,000 t Cu content#11 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
CopperReserves 202520 million t Cu content#12 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
BoronMine production 2018500,000 t unspecified—USGS MCS 2020
ChromiumMine production 20257 million t gross weight (chromite ore)#3 · 14%USGS MCS 2026
ChromiumReserves 2025230 million t gross weight (chromite ore)#2 · 19%USGS MCS 2026
AntimonyMine production 2025800 t Sb content#8 · 0.7%USGS MCS 2026
FluorsparMine production 202267,000 t fluorspar—USGS MCS 2023
BariteMine production 2025700,000 t barite#4 · 8%USGS MCS 2026
BariteReserves 202585 million t barite—USGS MCS 2026
ManganeseMine production 2023390,000 t manganese ore (gross weight)#12 · 0.7%USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (manganese), table 6
ManganeseReserves 20235 million t (basis not stated)#9 · 0.3%USGS MCS 2024
TungstenMine production 20252,400 t W content#3 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
ZincMine production 2025360,000 t Zn content#9 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
ZincReserves 20257.4 million t Zn content#8 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
BauxiteMine production 20254.8 million t bauxite (dry equivalent weight)#10 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
BauxiteReserves 2025160 million t bauxite (dry equivalent weight)#11 · 0.6%USGS MCS 2026
AluminaRefinery production 20251.5 million t alumina (calcined equivalent weight)#12 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
Titanium spongeRefinery production 202516,000 t titanium sponge metal#4 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
Phosphate rockMine production 20251.9 million t marketable phosphate rock (gross weight)#17 · 0.8%USGS MCS 2026
Phosphate rockReserves 2025260 million t marketable phosphate rock (gross weight)#14 · 0.4%USGS MCS 2026
SiliconRefinery production 2025120,000 t Si content (ferrosilicon)#5 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
MolybdenumMine production 20254,300 t Mo content#7 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
MolybdenumReserves 20257,000 t Mo content#15 · 0%USGS MCS 2026
LeadMine production 202140,000 t Pb content—USGS MCS 2022
LeadReserves 20212 million t Pb content#8 · 2%USGS MCS 2022
UraniumMine production 202525,839 t U content—Kazatomprom Operating and Financial Review 2025 (company report), 100% basis
UraniumResources 2023873,400 t U content#2 · 11%NEA/IAEA Red Book 2024 (Uranium 2024), Table 1.2a, <USD 260/kgU
BismuthRefinery production 2025180 t Bi (refined metal)#5 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
BismuthReserves 20105,000 t Bi content#6 · 2%USGS MCS 2011
BerylliumMine production 20044 t Be content—USGS MCS 2005
RheniumMine production 20251,000 kg Re content#7 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
RheniumReserves 2025190,000 kg Re content—USGS MCS 2026
SeleniumRefinery production 202550 t Se content (refined)#10 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
Magnesium metalRefinery production 202513,000 t primary magnesium metal (smelter production)#6 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
Iron oreMine production 202535 million t usable iron ore#11 · 1%USGS MCS 2026
Iron oreReserves 20253,800 million t crude ore#10 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
ArsenicRefinery production 20101,500 t arsenic trioxide (gross weight)#5 · 3%USGS MCS 2012
CadmiumRefinery production 20251,100 t Cd metal#5 · 5%USGS MCS 2026
CadmiumReserves 201330,000 t Cd content#7 · 6%USGS MCS 2014
SilverMine production 2025630 t Ag content#12 · 2%USGS MCS 2026
SulfurRefinery production 20254.8 million t S content#7 · 6%USGS MCS 2026
LimeRefinery production 20191.1 million t lime—USGS MCS 2020
GoldMine production 2025130 t Au content#8 · 4%USGS MCS 2026
GoldReserves 20252,300 t Au content#9 · 3%USGS MCS 2026
AsbestosMine production 2025250,000 t asbestos#3 · 26%USGS MCS 2026
AsbestosReserves 202520 million t asbestos#2 · 13%USGS MCS 2026

Policies and export measures

Policy tracker →

  • 2022-11-07 · agreement

    EU–Kazakhstan MoU on a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen value chains

    The European Commission and the Government of Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a strategic partnership on raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen, signed by the Commission President and Kazakhstan's Prime Minister on the margins of COP27. It covers closer economic and industrial integration of the value chains through joint projects and ESG alignment, supply-chain resilience and investment transparency, and cooperation on skills, research and innovation for sustainable mining.

    Source: European Commission, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

  • 2022-11-07 · agreement

    EU–Kazakhstan strategic partnership on raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen

    The Commission President and Kazakhstan's Prime Minister signed the memorandum of understanding on 7 November 2022 (signature date), at the margins of COP27. The Commission described it as its third raw-materials strategic partnership.

    Source: European Commission, DG GROW

Trade in critical minerals

Exports 2024$13 bn

  1. Copper$6.9 bnto China 78%, Türkiye 17%, Russia 4% · 14 more
  2. Chromium$2.4 bnto China 45%, Japan 17%, Indonesia 12% · 43 more
  3. Zinc$1.1 bnto China 52%, Russia 29%, Vietnam 6% · 19 more
  4. Aluminium$745 mto Azerbaijan 18%, Poland 12%, Greece 11% · 35 more
  5. Alumina$449 mto Russia 81%, Tajikistan 15%, China 4%
  6. Lead$338 mto Vietnam 42%, China 25%, Taiwan 10% · 19 more
  7. Titanium sponge$218 mto France 40%, Belgium 27%, South Korea 17% · 14 more
  8. Molybdenum$197 mto China 52%, Belgium 24%, South Korea 11% · 10 more

and 31 more commodities

Imports 2024$1.1 bn

  1. Copper$451 mfrom Russia 97%, Tajikistan 2%, Finland 0% · 9 more
  2. Lead$305 mfrom Mexico 41%, Tajikistan 27%, Italy 21% · 5 more
  3. Zinc$228 mfrom Russia 69%, Tajikistan 30%, Türkiye 1% · 5 more
  4. Tantalum*$29 mfrom South Korea 37%, United States of America 35%, Dem. Rep. Congo 16% · 8 more
  5. Titanium (ilmenite)*$22 mfrom Norway 55%, Sierra Leone 45%, China 0%
  6. Manganese*$15 mfrom Russia 36%, Gabon 29%, China 22% · 11 more
  7. Gallium*$15 mfrom China 32%, Germany 30%, United States of America 27% · 2 more
  8. Alumina$11 mfrom China 55%, United States of America 26%, Russia 5% · 15 more

and 32 more commodities

Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.

Fiscal regime for mining

InstrumentApplies toRateLegal basis
RoyaltyCopperMineral extraction tax (НДПИ) on copper8.55%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyZinc, LeadMET: zinc 10.5%, lead 10.4%10.5%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyChromiumMET on chromium ore (concentrate)21.06%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyManganese, Iron oreMET: iron ore (concentrate) 3.64%; manganese and ferro-manganese ore 3.25%3.64%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyNickel, Cobalt, Tungsten, Titanium sponge, Bismuth, Antimony, Magnesium metalMET: nickel 7.8%; mineral raw material containing chromium, titanium, magnesium, cobalt, tungsten, bismuth, antimony, mercury, arsenic etc. 7.8%; vanadium 5.2%; tin 3.9%; aluminium 0.38%; platinum/palladium 6.5%7.8%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyLithium, Beryllium, Tantalum, Strontium (celestite), Niobium, Zirconium (zircon), Rare earthsMET: lithium, beryllium, tantalum, strontium 7.7%; niobium, lanthanum, cerium, zirconium 7.7%; other REE (Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y) 6%; gallium 1%; selenium, tellurium, molybdenum 7%; germanium, indium, rhenium, hafnium, cadmium etc. 6%7.7%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyGoldGold MET by average exchange price: 7.5% up to USD 2,800/oz; 8% to 3,000; 8.5% to 3,200; 9% to 3,400; 9.5% to 3,600; 10% to 3,800; 11% above 3,800. Silver: 7.5% up to USD 28/oz rising to 11% above 387.5-11 sliding scalevalue of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(3)-(4)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyUraniumUranium MET by annual output: 4% up to 500 t, 6% to 1,000 t, 9% to 2,000 t, 12% to 3,000 t, 15% to 4,000 t, 18% above 4,000 t; plus 0.5-2.5 pp when the weighted U3O8 price exceeds USD 70-110/lb4-20.5 sliding scalevalue of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(2)in force 2026-01-01
RoyaltyPhosphate rock, Boron, Potash, Barite, Fluorspar, Graphite (natural), Talc and pyrophyllite, Gypsum, Sulfur, Diamond (industrial)MET on non-metallic minerals: phosphorites 4%, borates 3.5%, potash salts 6%, barite 4.5%, fluorite 3%, graphite 3.5%, talc 2%, gypsum 5.6%, sulphur 6%; precious stones (diamond, ruby, garnet etc.) 12%; technical stones 2%; other non-common minerals 4.7%4%value of extracted mineral (MET tax base per the Code)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Art. 781(1)(1)in force 2026-01-01
Royaltyenacted not in forceAll mineralsNew royalty regime replacing MET for solid-mineral licences issued after 31 Dec 2026 on areas never previously licensed: run-of-mine ore 13%, concentrates 10%, metals and alloys 7%7-13 sliding scalesale value of the commodity productНалоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан от 18 июля 2025 года № 214-VIII ЗРК (Tax Code 2026) · Ch. 90, Art. 790-794in force 2027-01-01
Corporate income tax (mining)All mineralsCorporate income tax on taxable income from activities not listed in Art. 357(2)(1)-(4) (agriculture 3%, cooperatives 6%, social sector 5%/10%, banks and gambling 25%); mining has no separate rate. Excess profit tax (Arts. 798-811) does not apply to contracts for exploration/production of solid minerals (Art. 799(2)(2))20%налогооблагаемый доход (taxable income)Налоговый кодекс Республики Казахстан (Tax Code, Code No. 214-VIII of 18 Jul 2025) · Art. 357(2)(5)in force 2026-01-01

Rates and terms as set in the cited law or regulation; agreements with individual projects can differ. Not legal or tax advice.

Deals and financing (9)

  1. 2026-09-03 · Offtake · signed

    Carester → Lindian Resources · Stepnogorsk 8,000 tpa REO solvent-extraction facility

    Lindian and Carester agreed a binding offtake for 70% of mixed heavy rare earth output from a planned 8,000 t/y REO separation plant at Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan, plus a technology and engineering services agreement for its feasibility study.

    official release

  2. 2026-08-10 · Acquisition · signed · US$20 m

    Lindian Resources → Former owners Sumitomo Corporation / Kazatomprom (via JV partner) · SARECO mixed rare earth carbonate hydromet facility (Stepnogorsk)

    Lindian agreed to acquire the remaining 49% of the SARECO rare earth carbonate hydrometallurgical plant at Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan - previously built and run by Sumitomo and Kazatomprom - for 100% ownership, at a USD 20 million purchase price on a 100% basis.

    official release

  3. 2026-05-06 · Equity investment · completed · AUD 1.4

    European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) → Sarytogan Graphite Limited · Sarytogan graphite deposit (Karaganda region)

    The EBRD made a follow-on AUD 1.4 million equity investment in Sarytogan Graphite, raising its stake to 18.4%, to fund the definitive feasibility study for the Kazakh graphite project.

    official release

  4. 2026-04-30 · Acquisition · signed

    Skyline Builders Group Holding (to be Kaz Resources Inc.) → Cove Kaz Capital Group LLC · Severniy Katpar and other Kazakh tungsten/rare earth assets

    Nasdaq-listed Skyline agreed a business combination with Cove Kaz Capital, holder of the Severniy Katpar tungsten deposit in Kazakhstan; the release cites a US EXIM letter of interest for up to USD 900 million and a DFC letter of interest for up to USD 700 million.

    official release

  5. 2026-02-04 · Government loan · announced · US$700 m

    U.S. International Development Finance Corporation → Cove Kaz Capital Group · Severniy Katpar tungsten mine

    DFC issued letters of intent for up to USD 700 million of debt and project development financing for Cove Kaz Capital's Severniy Katpar tungsten project in Kazakhstan, developed with Tau-Ken Samruk.

    official release

  6. 2026-01-14 · Joint venture · signed

    JCC Venture Exploration Management (Jiangxi Copper) → FQM Kazakhstan Limited (First Quantum Minerals) · Lakeside Minerals: 14 licences north of Lake Balkhash

    Jiangxi Copper's exploration arm signed an investment option agreement with First Quantum's Kazakhstan unit to co-invest in exploration, covering its stake in Lakeside Minerals, which it agreed in December 2025 to buy 14.9% of for USD 6.5 million.

    official release

  7. 2025-12-19 · Acquisition · signed · US$89 m

    China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Limited (CNMC) → Original shareholders of SM Minerals (three Kazakh individuals) · Benkala copper project

    China Nonferrous Mining agreed to buy a further 55% of SM Minerals, owner of the Benkala copper project in Kazakhstan, for USD 89 million, taking its holding to 70%.

    official release

  8. 2025-06-16 · Equity investment · signed

    China Nonferrous Mining Corporation Limited (CNMC) → SM Minerals (Benkala Mining Project) · Benkala copper project

    China Nonferrous Mining subscribed for 10.5% of SM Minerals, owner of the Benkala copper project in Kazakhstan, after earlier buying 5% for USD 5 million, and obtained call options toward a further 65%.

    official release

  9. 2024-08-09 · Equity investment · completed · AUD 5

    European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) → Sarytogan Graphite Limited · Sarytogan graphite deposit (Karaganda region)

    The EBRD bought AUD 5 million (EUR 3 million) of shares in ASX-listed Sarytogan Graphite, about 17.36%, to fund development of the Sarytogan graphite deposit in Kazakhstan, its first direct equity investment in Central Asian critical raw materials.

    official release

Mines and facilities (33)

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