Kyrgyz confectionery exports to China rise 5.3-fold as imports dominate trade
Kyrgyzstan exported $9.137 million of confectionery, chocolate and cocoa products in January-June 2026, while imports reached $63.871 million. Sugar confectionery shipments to China rose 5.3-fold to $380,400, but the country remained heavily dependent on supplies from Kazakhstan and Russia.
Imports remain seven times higher than exports
Kyrgyzstan’s trade in confectionery, chocolate and cocoa products remained heavily weighted toward imports in January-June 2026, despite a sharp increase in sugar confectionery exports to China. The country imported sweet products worth $63.8707 million, seven times the $9.137 million shipped abroad, according to National Statistical Committee data reported by 24.kg.
The figures show that growth in individual export markets has yet to alter the overall balance. Strong domestic demand for foreign chocolate and confectionery generated a substantial trade deficit in the product group. The gap between total imports and exports amounted to about $54.734 million based on the reported values.
China becomes a faster-growing destination
Exports of Kyrgyz sugar confectionery to China increased 5.3-fold to $380,400 from $71,700 in the same period of 2025. China therefore provided a notable source of growth, although shipments to that market still represented only a limited share of Kyrgyzstan’s $6.2818 million in total sugar confectionery exports.
Sugar confectionery accounted for the largest part of the country’s outbound trade in the category. Exports of chocolate and other cocoa-containing products reached $2.4815 million, while shipments of unsweetened cocoa powder totaled $373,700. Together, these reported segments explain nearly all of the $9.137 million export total.
Kazakhstan and Russia lead incoming supplies
Chocolate and other prepared foods containing cocoa dominated imports at $47.9995 million, with a physical volume of 10,069.4 tonnes. Sugar confectionery without cocoa, including white chocolate, accounted for another $15.8712 million and 6,569.2 tonnes. The figures indicate that chocolate products were the main source of Kyrgyzstan’s confectionery import bill during the period.
Kazakhstan supplied $23.4379 million of confectionery products, including $21.3833 million of chocolate and $2.0546 million of sugar confectionery. Russia followed closely with $23.1508 million, comprising $18.3058 million of chocolate and $4.845 million of sugar products. Together, the two countries provided more than $46.5 million of imports. Supplies of sugar confectionery from Turkey tripled to $1.1502 million, while purchases from Ukraine rose 2.9-fold to $2.8845 million. Chocolate imports from Uzbekistan increased 2.1-fold to $1.0108 million. For Kyrgyz producers, the expanding Chinese outlet offers diversification, but the scale of incoming regional supply continues to define competition in the domestic market.
