Kazakhstan plans to increase its grain exports to China to two million tons per year in the coming years, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced at the eighth meeting of the Kazakhstan-China Business Council in Beijing.
“Kazakhstan has the sixth-largest area of arable land in the world and ranks among the top ten grain exporters globally. Our country exports over ten million tons of wheat and approximately two million tons of flour each year. The Chinese market is of great interest to us, and Kazakhstan possesses the resources and capacity to export up to two million tons of grain to China annually,” Tokayev stated.
According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway operator, grain exports to China reached 1.7 million tons in 2023.
Strengthening Agro-Industrial Cooperation
Beyond raw grain exports, Astana places significant emphasis on developing joint processing enterprises. Tokayev highlighted ongoing projects by China’s Dalian Group, which is establishing a grain processing plant in the Akmola Region, and the Fufeng Group, which is developing a corn processing facility in the Zhambyl Region. Products from both plants are intended for the Chinese and European markets.
The president also invited Chinese investors to collaborate in the sectors of organic farming and livestock breeding.
Expanding Transport Corridors
Tokayev underscored the strategic importance of enhancing transport and logistics corridors as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that 85% of all land freight between China and Europe currently transits through Kazakhstan. The opening of a second track on the Dostyk-Moyinty rail section this year is expected to increase the capacity of the China-Europe corridor fivefold.
The president also emphasized the rising significance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. In 2023, freight volume along the TITR reached 4.5 million tons, an increase of 62% compared to 2022. Kazakhstan aims to raise this volume to ten million tons in the near future.
“Through joint efforts, we have already implemented major infrastructure projects, the Kazakh-Chinese logistics terminal at the port of Lianyungang and the dry port in Xi’an. For Chinese companies, leveraging Kazakhstan’s transit potential opens up significant opportunities,” Tokayev said.
The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan and China have also begun digitizing customs declaration procedures for transit cargoes along the TITR, aiming to reduce delays at border crossings.
