Afghanistan will not refuse Kazakh grain and flour

Despite the fact that the heads of a number of flour milling enterprises in Afghanistan asked the government to ban the import of flour from neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, – this will probably not be done. Atai Olfatullah, a representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan in the Republic of Kazakhstan, said in an interview with APK News that Afghanistan will definitely buy grain and flour from Kazakhstan. However, the volumes in 2024 will not be the same as they were in 2022.

– In 2022, the amount of import-export between Afghanistan and Kazakhstan reached up to $1 million,” said Mr. Olfatullah. – Now purchases have decreased. There was no budget for purchases. In addition, in 2023, the situation with wheat in Kazakhstan was not very good and Afghans started buying Russian flour through Kazakhstan, Iran, the Caspian Sea, the port of Turkmenbashi (and, by the way, they are still buying it). It was profitable. But this year the situation has changed. First, Afghanistan needs 2 to 3 million tons annually. At the moment, the situation in the country is such that farmers have been banned from growing poppies. So they are all growing wheat. For example, this year it yielded very well. At the moment the cost of good wheat of the 3rd class is $260. If you buy such wheat from Kazakhstan, it will cost at least $400 to Afghanistan.

Also, according to our interlocutor, the duty on grain and flour in Afghanistan has increased.

– If earlier for 1 ton of wheat we paid $25, now it is almost $40. For flour it was $35, now the duty is $55.

Afghanistan will buy Kazakh grain in any case, Atai Olfatullah is sure. Most likely, active sales will begin after August.

– If Afghanistan grows a good grain crop, will there be active purchases from Kazakhstan this year?

– We need 6 million tons of grain every year. From 2 to 3 million tons we grow ourselves, from 3 to 4 million tons we buy. This year we have over 3 million tons of grain of our own. Earlier, exports were allowed and Pakistan used to buy our wheat. Currently, export of wheat from Afghanistan is prohibited. Therefore, this year all flour millers bought only for the domestic market. As for the fact that there will be a ban on the purchase of Kazakhstani flour, – it will not happen, one hundred percent, I guarantee. Even if Afghan flour millers will ask for it. Afghans love Kazakhstani flour, they like it. Even this year it was not of very good quality, besides it was more expensive than good Russian flour. But they still bought it, it’s just that Afghans take it by name, by a recognized and proven brand. And there is a market with a guarantee and without a guarantee. One hundred percent Afghans will buy. But in the fall, by the end of September they will start. But it may not be like in 2022, when each Afghan mill was given 30-50 thousand tons of tender. There will be no such thing now.

– Why does Afghanistan prefer to buy grain and flour from Kazakhstan, if it is cheaper in Russia?

– Afghanistan only this year bought flour from Russia because there was no good quality flour and wheat in Kazakhstan. We do not buy wheat because it is expensive from Russia.

As reported, in May, grain processors in Afghanistan called on the interim government to refuse to import flour. In June, the authorities of Kazakhstan, on the contrary, announced the growth of grain and flour exports to this country. Kazakhstan’s flour millers believe that soon they will not be able to export their products to any countries at all. Many enterprises will end the year bankrupt.

Tags: Kazakhstan, grain, Afghanistan, restrictions