Kazakhstan begins rapeseed seed exports to China for the first time

In the second half of the current season, Kazakhstan has launched direct exports of rapeseed seeds to China for the first time, APK News reports, citing the Grain Union of Kazakhstan. This became possible after Kazakh exporters received accreditation from China’s General Administration of Customs. The first shipment totaled around 5,000 tons. Previously, rapeseed from Kazakhstan reached China only via Mongolia during the MY 2018/19 and 2020/21.

Rapeseed acreage in Kazakhstan has expanded 2.2 times compared to last year, reaching 328,000 hectares — the highest level since 2018. According to Grain Union representative Yevgeny Karabanov, weather conditions this year were “almost ideal” for crop development. The Union forecasts Kazakhstan’s 2025 rapeseed harvest at 540,000 tons, up 89% year-on-year, with post-processing production expected at about 480,000 tons.

In recent years, most rapeseed seeds in Kazakhstan have been processed domestically, while rapeseed oil and meal were mainly exported — primarily to China. Domestic consumption of rapeseed oil remains limited, as it is not traditionally used in local diets.

During the previous marketing year, Kazakhstan exported 120,700 tons of rapeseed seeds — 2.9 times more than in 2023/24 and 1.6 times higher than the six-year average. The main buyers were Latvia (33% of total exports), Russia (27%), Poland (18%), Estonia (6%), and France (4%).

Given this year’s strong harvest, the Grain Union expects rapeseed seed exports to reach around 150,000 tons in the current season. Key export destinations will include the Baltic countries, Poland, Russia, and China. Rapeseed prices in Kazakhstan currently stand at 220,000–225,000 tenge per ton ($460–470/t) and are trending upward, supported by high global vegetable oil prices.

Tags: China, Kazakhstan, export, rapeseed