Development of mutual agri-food trade between Kazakhstan and China

The study's relevance is due to the need for a significant increase in exports of products, which is supported by growth in the agro-food sector of Kazakhstan. However, increasing international tensions may jeopardize the opportunities for agro-food exports. In addition, more utilization is needed to ensure food production growth. Accordingly, an analysis of the fundamental factors determining Kazakhstan's agro-food export, resource potential, and expansion possibilities is critical. We are focused on the potential for market expansion in China and the development of exports of agro-food products with high-added value (non-resource exports). The study analyzes the main indices that characterize the comparative advantages of exports and indices of trade complementarity for individual markets. The paper assesses the real growth opportunities for agro-food exports, including particular products and goods in mutual trade with China. The absence of significant structural shifts in Kazakhstan's agro-food products supply to the Chinese market has been revealed. It is shown that the share of food and processed industry products in Kazakhstan's exports to China remains low compared to growth in exports of products of a low degree of processing. The weaknesses of Kazakhstan's agro-food exports are associated with the need to better realise the agricultural industry's resource potential.