Kazakhstan has significantly increased its exports of compound animal feed to China, even as shipments of unprocessed grain have declined, according to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway operator.
The shift in export dynamics is attributed to China’s record 700-million-ton grain harvest in 2025. In response to domestic supply, the Chinese authorities have tightened grain import regulations and introduced customs restrictions. As a result, Kazakhstan’s grain export structure has shifted toward processed goods with higher added value, most notably, compound animal feed.
Animal feed is in high demand within China’s livestock sector and receives priority clearance at border checkpoints. This preferential treatment has contributed to a notable surge in Kazakh feed exports.
During the first two months of the current marketing year (September-October 2025), KTZ transported 873,000 tons of grain for export, including 672,000 tons of animal feed, a 3.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
Overall grain exports to China, however, rose 35% year-on-year to 3.5 million tons between January and October 2025, reflecting a shift toward higher-value processed goods rather than bulk grain.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan continues to export most of its grain to countries across Central Asia and the Caucasus, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan.
