Central Asia News & Analysis

Central Asia

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.

Featured March 2, 2026

Middle Eastern Oil Control Highlighted As Onus Falls On Russia & China To Unite In Response 

The situation in Iran is creating serious security and supply chain problems in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea regions. We examine the wider geopolitical and energy issues that stretch far beyond Iran. However, architecture is in place to push back against US pressures – we examine the potential collaborations between Russia and China as well as their regional allies.

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Featured March 1, 2026

US-Iran Conflict: The Impact On Russia  

As readers will be well aware from reports elsewhere, the United States, in conjunction with Israel, has attacked Iran. We will make some initial observations, but generally speaking will not be focusing on this conflict (as is also the case with Ukraine) for the following reasons: We can however make some initial observations as regards […]

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February 28, 2026

Norway Buys Margarine From Russia For The First Time

Russia’s Pivot To Asia has taken a tentative look back over its shoulder to the West as Norway appeared among the buyers of Russian margarine for the first time in 2025, according to the Russian Agroexport Federal Center. Margarine products worth more than 21 million krone (€1.86 million) were shipped to the Norwegian market, Agroexport […]

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February 23, 2026

Russian Polymer Manufacturer To Set Up Production in Kazakhstan

The Russian company MK-Polymer , a resident company of the Seversk development territory in the Tomsk Region, supplied a batch of ethylene-propylene rubber to Kazenergokabel, the largest cable factory in Kazakhstan, and conducted operational tests on it, the company said. The joint work was aimed at testing the use of new materials in cable production. […]

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February 21, 2026

Russia’s New Entrepreneurs—Expanding Into Central Asia

Part Two of a Seven-Part Series in which we document the rise of the new outbound Russian entrepreneurial investor. From 2022 onward, Russia’s entrepreneurs and companies have been reshaping their foreign economic engagements in response to geopolitical realignments. As Western sanctions constrained access to traditional Western markets, Russia’s business community began to seek deeper footholds […]

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February 17, 2026

Russia-Afghanistan Trade Breakthrough As Dagestan & Kabul Sign Agreements: Analysis

The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) has held meetings with a Russian trade delegation from Dagestan to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation. This follows reports from several media outlets that on February 14, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) announced the signing of five commercial agreements worth a total […]

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February 12, 2026

Russia To Open Consulate In Aktau

Russia will open a Consulate General will open in Kazakhstan’s Aktau, according to a decree signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and published on the official legal information website on Wednesday (February 11). Its opening and maintenance costs will be funded “through budget allocations to the Russian Foreign Ministry envisaged in the federal budget […]

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February 2, 2026

Russia–Afghanistan Bilateral Relations: February 2026 Update

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Gul Hassan, has made several statements concerning developments between Russia and Afghanistan and with the wide regional world. Speaking to media on Monday (February 2), he said that Afghanistan would resume participation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and Kabul considers it appropriate to resume active participation in its work. Afghanistan […]

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January 21, 2026

Russian Global Dairy Exports Up 13%

Russia exported dairy products worth more than US$500 million in 2025, with supplies going to almost 100 countries worldwide, the head of the Agroexport federal center Ilya Ilyushin, said at the third forum of dairy industry leaders in Moscow on Tuesday (January 20). The final sales volumes are likely to be higher, as the December […]

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January 15, 2026

Russian Meat Exports Up 10.6% In 2025

Russia exported over 911,000 tonnes of meat and meat products in 2025, up 10.6% year-on-year, according to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) said, citing data from the Veterinary Information System (FGIS VetIS). Exports of poultry meat and edible offal increased 7.2% to 409,500 tonnes from 382,100 tonnes in 2024. The main […]

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January 14, 2026

Russian Margarine Exports Up 27% In 2025

Russia exported margarine worth almost US$350 million in 2025, up 27% year-on-year, the Agroexport federal center has stated. In physical terms, shipments exceeded 200,000 tonnes. The main buyer was Kazakhstan with a 26% share. Uzbekistan accounted for 15%, Tajikistan for 13%, Belarus for 11% and Azerbaijan for 9%. Data on shipments to the Eurasian Economic […]

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