In Kazakhstan, a significant slowdown in grain and processed product exports was recorded in early February. The National Association of Exporters “KazGrain” reported this in its analysis of grain shipments for 2025 and trends for the 2025/26 marketing year. Exporters noted that commercial and logistics services need to quickly identify the causes of the February decline to restore shipment momentum.
January 2026, however, saw record export volumes. Grain exports reached 1.45 million tonnes, up 38% compared with January 2025. Shipments of processed products also showed strong growth, reaching 229,000 tonnes — nearly double the previous year’s level.
Yet, in the first five days of February, export activity slowed sharply: grain shipments totaled just 177,000 tonnes, down 25% compared with the same period in 2025. Processed product exports dropped even more, to 27,000 tonnes, a decline of 42%. Exporters emphasize the urgent need to address potential logistical or infrastructure constraints to resume normal shipment levels.
Overall, 2025 was a record year for Kazakhstan’s grain exports: shipments rose by 31%, and total export volume reached 14.2 million tonnes. At the same time, processed product volumes fell by 13% to 2.78 million tonnes, reflecting reduced domestic demand and changes in import patterns on key markets.
Exporters also highlighted a shift in trade directions. The largest growth in grain exports was observed to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, as well as through transit routes to Iran. Meanwhile, shipments to China fell sharply by more than half due to logistical and macroeconomic factors. At the same time, exports to Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan are rising rapidly, with demand for both grain and processed products showing strong growth.
