xpenditures of $1.76
billion (1991)
Exports:
$1.5 billion to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
commodities:
oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, grain, wool, meat (1991)
partners:
Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Imports:
$500 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)
commodities:
machinery and parts, industrial materials
partners:
Russia and other former Soviet republics, China
External debt:
$2.6 billion (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -15% (1992 est.); accounts for 30% of net material product
Electricity:
19,135,000 kW capacity; 81,300 million kWh produced, 4,739 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
extractive industries (oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc,
copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur), iron and
steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric
motors, construction materials

*Kazakhstan, Economy

Agriculture:
accounts for almost 40% of net material product; employs about 25% of the
labor force; grain, mostly spring wheat; meat, cotton, wool
Illicit drugs:
illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
recipient of limited foreign aid (1992)
Currency:
retaining Russian ruble as currency (May 1993)
Exchange rates:
rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
calendar year

*Kazakhstan, Communications

Railroads:
14,460 km (all 1.520-meter gauge); does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
189,000 km total; 108,100 km hard surfaced (paved or gravel), 80,900 km
earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
Syr Darya
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,850 km, refined products 1,500 km, natural gas 3,480 km (1992)
Ports:
inland - Atyrau (Guryev; on Caspian Sea)
Airports:
total:
365
useable:
152
with permanent-surface runways:
49
with runways over 3,659 m:
8
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
38
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
71
Telecommunications:
telephone service is poor, with only about 6 telephones for each 100
persons; of the approximately 1 million telephones, Almaty (Alma-Ata) has
184,000; international traffic with other former USSR republics and China
carried by landline and microwave, and with othe