Uzbekistan boosts flour exports and overtakes Kazakhstan on the global market

In 2025, Uzbekistan sharply increased exports of wheat flour, largely produced from Kazakh grain, and is now moving toward leading positions in the global flour exporter ranking. This was stated by Yevgeny Gan, Chairman of the Founders’ Council of the Union of Grain Processors of Kazakhstan, citing official statistics.

According to him, the key driver was a surge in Kazakhstan’s wheat shipments to Uzbekistan. In 2025, Kazakhstan exported more than 5 million tons of wheat to the country, nearly 50% higher than a year earlier. At the same time, Kazakh flour exports to Uzbekistan declined, as the country is rapidly expanding its own processing capacity.

Overall, Kazakhstan exported more than 9 million tons of wheat in 2025, about 1.5 times higher than in 2024. However, flour exports rose only slightly to 1.93 million tons, while shipments to major Central Asian markets — including Uzbekistan and Afghanistan — even decreased.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan significantly increased exports of grain and processed grain products, which jumped by over 40% during the year. Analysts attribute this to government policy: export duties on wheat limit raw grain shipments abroad while encouraging domestic processing.

As a result, Uzbekistan is rapidly strengthening its position in the global flour market and effectively pushing Kazakhstan out of its traditional leadership role. Experts note this trend highlights a growing gap between the two countries: one is focusing on value-added processing, while the other is increasingly relying on raw commodity exports.

Tags: Kazakhstan, flour, Uzbekistan