Uzbekistan overtakes Kazakhstan in flour exports by processing Kazakh grain

Uzbekistan has surpassed Kazakhstan in wheat flour exports, largely due to its use of imported Kazakh grain for processing. This shift has reshaped regional trade dynamics in Central Asia, with Uzbekistan strengthening its position on the Afghan market, according to industry data and regional experts.

In 2025, Kazakhstan exported around 1.05 million tonnes of wheat flour to Afghanistan, while Uzbekistan shipped approximately 1.6 million tonnes to the same destination. The key factor behind Uzbekistan’s growth is its large-scale processing of imported grain, a significant share of which originates from Kazakhstan.

Analysts note that this model effectively shifts value-added production away from Kazakhstan. While Kazakh producers supply the raw grain, Uzbekistan captures a larger share of the export value by converting it into flour and supplying it to regional markets.

It is estimated that producing 1.6 million tonnes of flour required Uzbekistan to process about 2.2 million tonnes of Kazakh wheat. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan remains a major grain exporter but is gradually losing ground in the higher-value processed segment of the regional market.

Industry experts in Kazakhstan emphasize the need to balance grain and flour exports in order to maximize domestic value creation. However, growing demand in Central Asia and Afghanistan continues to intensify competition between raw grain exporters and processors, reshaping long-term trade flows in the region.

Tags: Kazakhstan, flour, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan