Russia-Central Asia 2025 showed growth volumes surpassing US$45 billion and Russian energy (gas, LPG) exports significantly up, driven by Central Asian states balancing ties with Russia and China. Key developments include increased Russian gas & LPG supplies, new integration initiatives like CIS+ formats, and Central Asia’s multi-vector foreign policies amidst sanctions pressure, highlighting Moscow’s continued economic push despite competing global interests. Master the business environment of Central Asia with a Russian focus. Analyze EAEU market integration, investment projects, and trade dynamics for businesses operating in or with this strategic region.
Russian rail connectivity and freight volumes with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries has been increasing and is set to continue this trend. We examine the rail development plans of each of the major national carriers as it becomes apparent that overland supply chains must improve in the wake of regional maritime uncertainties and conflicts.
Kazakhstan and Russia are making significant efforts to boost Eurasian continental rail connectivity with China, in moves that will further secure supply chains in the wake of current maritime shipping problems. We examine the trends and the longer term impacts.
Russia’s Wildberries & Russ has established a WB Taxi pilot taxi hailing service in Kyrgyzstan as the company both enters the domestic market and tests for a later launch in Russia. WB Taxi users have access to the Standard, Comfort, and Multi fares, 24/7 voice support, and chat functionality. There is also a loyalty programme.
Russia’s Ozon online marketplace has entered Turkmenistan and has partnered with the national postal service to arrange deliveries. Ozon is one of Russia’s largest and pioneering e-commerce companies, often referred to as the “Amazon of Russia”, offering millions of products across multiple categories and sustaining a wide logistics and delivery network. It has had significant growth in Central Asia in recent years.
The Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shymkent to attend a Eurasian Economic Union Intergovernmental Commission. Russia-Kazakh bilateral trade has reached nearly US$30 billion, ahead of schedule, while Russian investment in Kazakhstan has reached US$50 billion. The two countries collaborate in energy, agricultural and numerous engineering sectors.
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Russia’s FESCO Transport Group is emerging as an significant Asian regional multimodal carrier as it begins servicing intra-Asian and not just Russian trade. As an example, the group recently shipped Vietnamese vehicles to Kazakhstan.
Rosatom have begun work on Kazakhstan’s first Nuclear Power Plant and is looking to expand cooperation with other international partners in Kazakhstan’s growing nuclear energy industry. The country possesses significant uranium reserves.
Russia’s Rosatom nuclear energy company have begun pouring concrete as part of the initial construction process for Uzbekistan’s NPP in the Jizzakh region. It is part of the construction of a small nuclear power plant unit with a RITM-200N reactor and is expected to provide about 14% of Uzbekistan’s total energy needs.
Russia’s agricultural exports to Uzbekistan rose 19% last year, with sugar amongst the best performing items. Russian chocolate, soybean meal, sunflower oil and margarine all showed signifcant increases.
The Iran war is impacting supply chains throughout Central Asia including the Eurasian Economic Union and Commonwealth of Independent States, creating new logistics corridors as well as problems. We examine the geostrategic implications as the Western hemisphere becomes increasingly isolated from the East.
The Iran conflict has cut off Europe from its normal Southeast Asian aviation routes, yet Russia has been able to call on regional members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as well as its new Asian diplomatic strategy, to reroute flights to the east and use Eurasian connectivity to access Southeast Asian tourist destinations. This move could ultimately open up new transport hubs in Central Asia to service these markets in problems persist in the Middle East.
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