Oilseeds become key driver of crop farming profitability in Kazakhstan

Oilseed crops became the main driver of crop farming profitability in Kazakhstan in 2025, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said during a government meeting, noting that oilseed processing is also expanding rapidly.

According to official data, total oilseed production reached a record 4.9 million tonnes in 2025, up 48% year-on-year. Sunflower output increased by 39% to 2.5 million tonnes, flax production rose by 77% to 1.3 million tonnes, and rapeseed harvest more than doubled to 0.6 million tonnes. Farmers continue to receive subsidized loans at 5% annually for 12–15 months, with repayment rates close to 99%.

Processing development remains the next strategic step for the sector. The government is implementing a systematic program to expand oilseed-processing capacity and modernize existing plants to increase the value added of agricultural production.

In 2024–2025, four major investment projects worth 58 billion tenge were launched, providing a combined processing capacity of about 1 million tonnes. In addition, a new lecithin production line has been commissioned in East Kazakhstan Region, while another lecithin facility is expected to be launched in North Kazakhstan Region this year.

Over the next three years, Kazakhstan plans to implement 13 additional investment projects worth 94 billion tenge. These measures have already helped increase exports of value-added products, including sunflower oil shipments reaching about 600,000 tonnes, allowing the country to rank eighth globally among sunflower oil exporters.

Tags: Kazakhstan, oilseeds