Kazakhstan grain seeks new markets amid falling exports

Kazakhstan grain seeks new markets amid falling exports

Kazakhstan has reduced grain exports abroad by almost 20%.

As of January 1 of this year, the volume of wheat on the domestic market amounted to 15.7 million tons. This is 34.6% more than on the same date last year.

However, exports in 2024 decreased by 18% compared to 2023. 5.9 million tons of grain worth $1.1 billion were exported abroad.

Uzbekistan remained the main sales market (3.3 million tons). But supplies decreased by 5%.

Italy also bought less wheat – twice as much (252.6 thousand tons), Afghanistan – 1.7 times (251.5 thousand tons). And Turkmenistan reduced the volume of local grain imports by 12.7 times, to 42.3 thousand tons.

Export growth is noticeable in other areas. For example, supplies to China increased by 7.5% (579.2 thousand tons), Tajikistan – by 14% (1.1 million tons), Azerbaijan – 1.5 times (170.3 thousand tons), Kyrgyzstan – 1.9 times (60.1 thousand tons).

In addition to these countries, Kazakhstan also exports wheat to Germany, Georgia, Spain, Latvia, Norway, Pakistan, Great Britain, Turkey. But the export volumes are small.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture told LS that this season, wheat sales to Iran and Azerbaijan have resumed. And 1.7 million tons of wheat have already been delivered to China.

In addition, Kazakhstan is looking for new markets for sales. Negotiations are underway on the export of agricultural products to Azerbaijan, China, Iran, North Africa and EU countries through the ports of the Black and Baltic Seas, as well as with Uzbekistan and Georgia.

According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, 6.6 million tons of grain were transported from the new harvest (from September 2024 to February 13, 2025), an increase of 44.7% compared to the same period in 2023-2024.

At the same time, 1.4 million tons were transported within Kazakhstan (+28.4%), and 5.1 million tons were exported (+49.9%).

As for imported grain, there was also less of it on the domestic market – 1.6 million tons (-27.4%). Almost the entire volume came from Russia.

Tags: wheat, Kazakhstan, export, grain