Kazakhstan could enter sub-Saharan African wheat market for the first time

Malawi is considering importing wheat from Kazakhstan, which could give the country its first market in sub-Saharan Africa. Potential supplies were discussed by representatives of the two countries as part of talks on agricultural cooperation and food security.

So far, Kazakhstan’s wheat exports to Africa have been concentrated mainly in North Africa. In 2025, Kazakhstan shipped around 494 thsd tons of wheat and meslin to the continent, up from just 7.7 thsd tons in 2021. The main buyers were Algeria with around 321 thsd tons, Morocco with 162 thsd tons and Egypt with 12 thsd tons.

Malawi is a relatively small and highly concentrated wheat market. In 2025, the country imported around 73 thsd tons of wheat worth $35 mln, with Australia supplying about 42 thsd tons and Russia 27 thsd tons. Together, the two countries accounted for around 95% of imports.

Kazakhstan is showing greater interest in new destinations as its own exports increase and Black Sea supply disruptions create additional uncertainty. In 2025, Kazakhstan’s wheat and meslin exports reached around 9.03 mln tons, compared with 5.7 mln tons in 2021, and rose by more than 50% y/y.

Talks with Malawi have not yet resulted in a specific agreement. However, if shipments materialize, Kazakhstan would expand its African wheat export geography beyond North Africa for the first time.

Tags: Kazakhstan, wheat, Africa, imports, Malawi