Kazakhstan cuts sunflower seed exports amid record processing

Kazakhstan reduced sunflower seed exports outside the EAEU by 6.6% in MY 2025/26 to 210 thsd tons. Shipments nearly came to a halt in August, when exports totaled just 4.9 thsd tons, 3.3 times less than in July.

The decline is attributed to high domestic seed prices, rapid growth in processing and an export duty of 20% of customs value, but no less than €100/t. Kazakhstan’s Grain Union considers the duty one of the main barriers to raw sunflower seed exports.

China remained the largest buyer of Kazakh sunflower seed, accounting for 165.8 thsd tons, or 78.9% of total exports in MY 2025/26. Shipments to China fell 11.6% y/y. At the same time, exports to Turkey increased 6.4-fold to 7.7 thsd tons.

As seed exports declined, domestic processing reached record levels. Kazakhstan’s sunflower oil production rose 18.2% to 874.9 thsd tons, while exports increased 34% to an all-time high of 815.4 thsd tons. Sunflower oil imports, meanwhile, fell 15.9% to 125.7 thsd tons.

Exports of sunflower meal and cake are also increasing. Kazakhstan’s oilseed sector is therefore gradually shifting away from raw sunflower seed exports toward domestic processing and higher-value products.

Tags: Kazakhstan, export, sunseed, sunflower oil