Kazakhstan’s lentil exports approach historic high

In the MY 2025/26, Kazakhstan is expected to export around 470,000 tonnes of lentils, which would mark an all-time high. The forecast was announced by Yevgeny Karabanov, Head of the Analytics Committee of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan.

Lentil exports from Kazakhstan in December of the 2025/26 marketing year (excluding EAEU countries) totaled 32,100 tonnes. This was 40% lower than in November, but 20% higher than in December of the previous marketing year.

On a cumulative basis, lentil exports for September–December 2025/26 reached 302,000 tonnes. This volume is 1.7 times higher than in the same period last season and is already close to the total exports recorded for the entire previous marketing year, which had been the highest on record.

Turkey remains the main buyer of Kazakh lentils, increasing imports by more than 2.9 times year-on-year to 283,800 tonnes, accounting for 94% of total exports. Smaller volumes were shipped to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, while limited quantities were also delivered to Iran, EU countries, Central Asia and the Middle East. Shipments to China reached 6,000 tonnes, compared with just 1,000 tonnes in the whole of the previous season.

According to Karabanov, the record export volumes are the result of a strong lentil harvest in Kazakhstan in 2025, which the Grain Union of Kazakhstan estimates at around 720,000 tonnes. As a result, lentil exports in the MY 2025/26 are projected at 470,000 tonnes, setting a new historical record.

Tags: Kazakhstan, export, lentil