Geography of agricultural exports from Kazakhstan has halved in 10 years

Exports of agricultural products from Kazakhstan from 2012 to 2022 decreased both in quantitative terms and in terms of the geography of supply. In recent years, the markets of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia for wheat have been lost, and grain supplies to Iran and Turkmenistan have significantly decreased. Export of livestock products also has no significant development. This is stated in the national project for the development of agro-industrial complex “Strong AIC” for 2024-2028, which was presented for discussion by the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Over the past 10 years in foreign trade, the geography and volume of exports of agricultural crops have been noticeably reduced. For comparison, the export of grain and oilseeds in 2012 was carried out to 63 countries, at the same time in 2022 this indicator has decreased to 31 countries, as a consequence, the exported volumes have also decreased”, – notes the Ministry of Agriculture.

As a result of chronic underfunding of the industry, loss of competitiveness and reduction of exports in recent years in Kazakhstan were closed 416 greenhouses with a total area of 232.3 thousand hectares, 12 poultry farms, 10 enterprises for meat processing and 9 enterprises for milk processing, 20 dairy farms, 80 fattening grounds.

According to the information of the Ministry of Agriculture, at present only products of deep processing of grain from Kazakhstan, which are supplied to the EU and Latin America, are competitive in the world markets.

In accordance with the proposed national project, it is planned to increase exports of agro-industrial complex products by two times, up to 10 billion, in five years. For this purpose, the volume of state support for the industry will be significantly increased in order to launch new enterprises. In particular, the production of poultry meat is planned to increase by 255.3 thousand tons, milk – by 612 thousand tons, vegetables in closed ground – by 142.4 thousand tons, fish – by 75.8 thousand tons. Additional storage infrastructure will also be created for 980 thousand tons.

In addition, by 2028, it is planned to launch 175 projects for processing agricultural products, including deep processing.

Tags: Kazakhstan, export, grain