Kazakhstan sharply increases grain exports to China and Afghanistan

Kazakhstan sharply increased grain shipments to key Asian markets in September. Exports to China rose 2.8-fold to 188 thsd tons, while shipments to Afghanistan increased 3.4-fold to 107 thsd tons.

A record 1.45 mln tons of grain was transported by rail in September. Of this volume, 1.2 mln tons was exported, up 13% year-on-year.

Central Asian countries remained the main destination, taking 701 thsd tons of grain, up 8% year-on-year. Uzbekistan was the largest buyer in the region at 512 thsd tons, 14% more than in September 2025.

Exports of grain processing products also increased. Kazakhstan shipped 230 thsd tons abroad in September, up 27% year-on-year, while total rail shipments of processed grain products reached 274 thsd tons.

In January-September, Kazakhstan transported 10.8 mln tons of grain by rail, up 12% year-on-year, including 8.4 mln tons for export, up 14%. If the current pace is maintained, annual grain rail shipments could reach 14–15 mln tons.

Tags: China, Kazakhstan, export, grain, grain export, Afghanistan