Kazakhstan exported more than 52 million tons of oil in 2005, nearly the same as 2004, showed official statistics.

However, the oil export value last year saw a dramatic increase of 52.4 percent against the previous year, standing at 17.395 billion U.S. dollars. This was due mainly to the rising price on the world oil market.

Figures from the state statistics bureau also showed that the export volume of refined oil by the Central Asian country in 2005 reached 3.48 million tons in an annual increase of 50.6 percent, while the export value more than tripled to 911 million dollars.

With a population of 15 million, Kazakhstan produces 60 million tons of crude annually and processes about 10 million tons.

The oil-rich country has a proven oil reserve of 10 billion tons, the second biggest behind Russia among the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

A Kazakh government plan sets the goal of becoming one of the world's top 10 oil-exporting countries by 2012.

Source: Xinhua