Kazakhstan nearly exhausts sunflower seed export potential

Kazakhstan’s sunflower seed exports fell by 10.1% year-on-year in the first 11 months of the MY 2025/26 to 196.5 thsd tons. In July alone, shipments dropped to just 7.5 thsd tons, 2.44 times lower than in June.

The decline is mainly attributed to high domestic sunflower seed prices, expanding domestic crushing capacity and an export duty of 20% of the customs value, but no less than €100/t. Against this backdrop, the Grain Union of Kazakhstan lowered its sunflower seed export forecast for the current season by 5 thsd tons to 205 thsd tons.

As a result, Kazakhstan has already used 95.9% of its projected annual export potential during the first 11 months of the season. This leaves limited room for additional shipments before the end of the MY 2025/26.

China remains the largest buyer of Kazakh sunflower seed, accounting for 81.9% of total exports. However, shipments to China declined by 12% to 161 thsd tons, while exports to Uzbekistan fell 3.9-fold to 3.6 thsd tons and those to Tajikistan dropped 2.67-fold to 0.9 thsd tons. Türkiye was the only major destination to record growth, with imports surging 6.4-fold to 7.7 thsd tons.

At the same time, Kazakhstan also reduced sunflower seed imports, which mainly originate from neighboring regions of russia. Imports totaled 127.5 thsd tons in the first 11 months of the season, down 14.9% year-on-year. High domestic prices, the export duty and expanding crushing capacity continue to shift the Kazakh market away from seed exports toward domestic processing.