Kazakhstan Doubles Barley Exports, with Iran and China Leading Demand

Kazakhstan has doubled its barley exports in the 2024-2025 marketing year, strengthening its position as a key player in the global grain market.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country exported 1.82 million tons of barley between September 2024 and August 2025, twice the volume recorded in the same period the previous season.

The sharp increase was driven by a strong harvest of 3.84 million tons, robust demand from major markets such as Iran and China, and competitive pricing.

Iran emerged as the largest buyer, importing 1.064 million tons, nearly 30 times more than the previous year. China followed with 414,400 tons, while Uzbekistan imported 125,200 tons.

The surge in international demand has also pushed up domestic barley prices, providing a boost to local producers. In September 2024, prices ranged between KZT 50,000 and 52,000 per ton; by early August 2025, they had climbed to KZT 85,000-87,000 per ton.

The Ministry projects total barley exports for the 2024-2025 season will reach 1.9 million tons.

Kazakhstan has also reported a significant rise in wheat exports. Between September 2024 and July 2025, the country exported 12.4 million tons of wheat and flour, a 34% increase compared to the 9.3 million tons exported during the same period in 2023-2024.

Tags: Kazakhstan, barley