Agricultural Export - The Times Of Central Asia

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Russia Agriculture Bilateral Relations Bilateral Trade Agricultural Export Agricultural Produce

Kazakhstan Aims to Boost Agricultural Exports to Russia

Kazakhstan is seeking to expand its agricultural exports to Russia as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade ties. On January 21, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov met with his Russian counterpart Oksana Lut in Moscow to discuss lifting restrictions on the import and transit of agricultural products. Trade turnover in agricultural goods between the two countries reached $3.4 billion from January to November 2024, marking a 4.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. According to Saparov, Russia remains Kazakhstan's largest trading partner in the agricultural sector. Over the first 11 months of 2024, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Russia totaled $502.9 million. “Kazakhstan is interested in increasing the presence of its agricultural products on the Russian market,” Saparov said. In recent months, both countries have made progress in easing trade restrictions. Kazakhstan has lifted all restrictions on Russian agricultural products, while Russia this month removed temporary bans on tomato imports from 36 Kazakh enterprises. Discussions are ongoing to further relax restrictions on the import and transit of Kazakh livestock and plant products. The Moscow meeting concluded with the signing of an action plan to enhance Russian-Kazakh agro-industrial cooperation. Key elements of the plan include: Preparing a joint project to establish an agrobiotechnopark. Creating a favorable framework for mutual food supplies. Finalizing the integration of veterinary and phytosanitary control information systems. These measures are expected to strengthen agricultural trade between the two countries and support the development of new joint projects in the agro-industrial sector.

Agriculture USAID Agricultural Export EAEU Agricultural Produce

Kyrgyzstan Boosts Exports of National Dairy Products

Exports of Kyrgyzstan's dairy products have seen significant growth, with member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) increasing their imports from the republic. Just six months ago, Kyrgyzstan lagged behind its EAEU counterparts in dairy production and exports. Impressive Growth in Exports According to the Ministry of Agriculture, milk sales by Kyrgyz farms rose by 124% in 2024, while dairy exports increased by as much as 167%. By the end of 2024, Kyrgyzstan had exported more than 33,000 tons of milk and dairy products, compared to just under 30,000 tons in 2023. The growth was driven not only by traditional products - such as cheese, butter, ice cream, cream, milk powder, and pasteurized milk - but also by national dairy specialties made from cow's milk. Notably, Kyrgyzstan exported over 120 tons of fermented milk products, such as the national beverages chalap and bozo, to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan in 2024. Additionally, exports of kurut, a traditional Kyrgyz snack made from dried curd balls, exceeded 3.3 tons last year, reflecting the growing demand for unique national products abroad. Context Within the EAEU This progress comes in the wake of criticism from the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) last summer, which ranked Kyrgyzstan among the lowest milk producers in the Union. According to EEC data, Armenia was at the bottom with an annual production of 123,000 tons of milk, while Kyrgyzstan was second-to-last with 620,000 tons. For comparison, neighboring Kazakhstan produces over 2 million tons annually, while Russia leads the EAEU with 13.5 million tons of milk produced per year. International Support Spurs Growth The Kyrgyz Ministry of Agriculture attributed the surge in dairy production and exports in part to foreign assistance programs, particularly a USAID initiative. This project has funded the construction of new dairy processing facilities for dozens of farmers in southern Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, more than 100 farmers continue to receive training and counseling on modern cow husbandry practices, which have improved productivity and product quality.

Grain export Wheat export Agricultural Produce harvest Agricultural Export Agriculture

Kazakhstan’s New Harvest Grain Exports Surge by 54%

Between September and December 25, 2024, Kazakhstan exported 3.7 million tons of grain from its new harvest - a dramatic 54% increase compared to the same period in 2023, when 2.4 million tons were exported. The announcement was made by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, citing data from Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railways company responsible for grain transportation. Significant increases were reported across the traditional markets for Kazakh grain: Uzbekistan: Exports grew by 44%, rising from 994,000 tons to 1.427 million tons. Tajikistan: Exports increased by 53%, from 385,000 tons to 589,000 tons. Afghanistan: Exports surged by 52%, from 120,000 tons to 182,000 tons. Kyrgyzstan: Exports rose by 22%, from 59,000 tons to 72,000 tons. Iran has emerged as a highly promising new market. Exports to Iran (via the Caspian port of Aktau) soared by a staggering 30.2 times, from just 14,000 tons to 435,000 tons. Kazakhstan harvested over 26.5 million tons of grain from 16.7 million hectares in 2024, as previously reported by The Times of Central Asia. The country plans to export approximately 12 million tons of the new harvest to both traditional markets - Central Asia and Afghanistan - and new ones, including Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. China is also seen as a key growth market. In 2023, Kazakhstan exported 1.43 million tons of cereals to China - a 5.5-fold increase from the previous year. Kazakhstan’s grain export surge underscores the country’s growing role as a major supplier to both regional and global markets, bolstered by strong demand and strategic diversification efforts.

Legislation Grain export Agricultural Produce Agricultural Export Government Agriculture

Kazakhstan Will Not Extend Wheat Import Ban

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the country will not extend the ban on wheat imports, which was in effect from August 21 to December 31, 2024. However, officials have not ruled out the possibility of reintroducing such measures in the future to safeguard the interests of domestic grain producers. “From August 21 to December 31, 2024, there was a ban on the import of wheat into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) from third countries and from the EAEU countries by all means of transport, except for the transit of wheat through the territory of Kazakhstan. Thus, from January 1, 2025, the ban on imports of wheat into Kazakhstan and imports will be carried out without restrictions,” stated the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry noted that future decisions on non-tariff measures regulating wheat imports would depend on the situation in the grain market. This leaves open the possibility of reintroducing temporary bans on imported wheat if necessary. The current ban was introduced to stabilize domestic grain prices. In October, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin explained that earlier attempts to regulate imports through less restrictive measures had failed. Wheat continued to enter Kazakhstan through unofficial channels at prices lower than the cost of domestically produced grain, disrupting the local market. “We needed this ban to determine the price on the domestic market, to give a message to the domestic market on price,” Zhumangarin stated. He added that the authorities have now stabilized prices and plan to monitor wheat pricing at the border to avoid the need for future blanket bans. The ban had a significant impact on wheat imports from Russia. In the first half of 2024, 1.3 million tons of Russian wheat were imported, often labeled as feed for poultry farms or raw materials for Kazakhstan’s flour milling industry. This figure sharply contrasts with Kazakhstan’s annual grain consumption of 1.7 million tons, based on per capita consumption of 64 kg annually. Kazakhstan entered the ban period with robust grain reserves of 5.1 million tons and anticipated a record harvest of 25 million tons in 2024. In reality, the harvest exceeded expectations, reaching 26.5 million tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Despite these gains, the competitiveness of domestic grain within the country remains a concern. The Times of Central Asia previously reported Kazakhstan’s ambitious export plans, aiming to ship up to 12 million tons of grain from the new harvest to international markets. However, competition with Russian wheat has complicated these efforts. In response to Kazakhstan’s ban, Russia imposed partial restrictions on importing Kazakh agricultural products in October 2024. More critically, Russia began redirecting its wheat exports to third countries that have traditionally been key markets for Kazakh farmers.

Agriculture Bilateral Trade UAE Agricultural Export Economic Cooperation

Kazakhstan’s Lamb Gaining Ground in Arab Markets

Demand for Kazakh food products is on the rise in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which imports over $23 billion worth of agricultural goods annually. Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to the UAE were a key focus during a meeting in Dubai between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Shakkaliyev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness to supply organic agricultural products, with chilled lamb emerging as a standout item in the UAE market. During the first ten months of 2024, Kazakhstan exported 13,300 tons of lamb to the UAE, valued at $45.3 million. This marks a twofold increase in export volume and a 64% rise in revenue compared to the same period in 2023. In addition to lamb, Shakkaliyev highlighted Kazakhstan’s capacity to export high-quality flour, sunflower oil, confectionery, and dairy products to the UAE. The minister also emphasized Kazakhstan’s commitment to developing halal certification for its agricultural products. “Since 2014, more than 1,800 domestic and foreign companies have been certified, demonstrating the high quality and compliance of Kazakhstani products with international standards,” he noted. As part of the meeting, a tasting session showcased Kazakhstani lamb, confectionery, and apples, further promoting the country's agricultural offerings. Kazakhstan’s lamb exports have also seen significant growth in other Arab markets. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration, lamb exports to Qatar have increased by 75% since the beginning of 2024.

Russia Export/Import Agriculture Economy Agricultural Export

Tomato Surplus in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Amid Low Russian Demand

Greenhouse vegetable farmers in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are grappling with a significant oversupply of tomatoes due to a decline in demand from Russian buyers, according to analysts at EastFruit. Turkmenistan's greenhouse farmers are reporting extreme difficulties in selling their produce, with prices falling below $1 per kilogram. “Demand in the Russian market has dropped sharply, continuously exerting downward pressure on prices,” noted the EastFruit report. Turkmenistan has rapidly expanded its greenhouse farming sector in recent years, increasing production volumes of tomatoes. However, the sharp decline in Russian purchasing power is presenting a major challenge. Similarly, tomato prices in Uzbekistan have plummeted, averaging 32% lower than last year. Wholesale prices for red, round greenhouse tomatoes stand at $1.17 per kilogram for smaller quantities, with export prices similar to those in Turkmenistan. Despite these low prices, Uzbekistan often prioritizes exporting premium-quality tomatoes, which can fetch higher prices internationally than in the domestic market. Uzbek exporters have highlighted the negative impact of the depreciation of the Russian ruble and financial instability in Russia. These factors have complicated the export of greenhouse vegetables to one of the region's largest markets, exacerbating the difficulties faced by growers.