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Agricultural Export

Kazakhstan Agricultural Exports Face Growing Competition from Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan is rapidly increasing the value of its agricultural exports and trying to sell more processed products abroad rather than simply exporting raw commodities. In 2025, the country’s agricultural exports reached $7 billion, with processed products accounting for $3.6 billion. In the first four months of 2026, exports of agricultural and food products rose another 36% to $3 billion. But Kazakhstan’s relationship with Uzbekistan, one of the main buyers of its agricultural products, shows another side of this process. Uzbekistan is also beginning to challenge the established pattern. It buys Kazakh grain, vegetable oils, and oilseed products, but is expanding its own processing capacity. In some sectors, finished Uzbek products are now entering the same foreign markets where Kazakh producers have traditionally been strong. This is most clearly visible in the flour market. Kazakhstan has long been a dominant regional flour exporter and was until recently Afghanistan’s main supplier. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, imported both Kazakh wheat and flour. As Tashkent expanded its domestic milling capacity, it increasingly bought raw Kazakh wheat and turned it into flour at home. By 2025, the balance had shifted. Kazakhstan supplied Afghanistan with about 1.05 million metric tons of flour, while Uzbekistan shipped nearly 1.59 million tons. Almost all of Uzbekistan’s flour exports in 2025 went to the Afghan market. Kazakhstan has not disappeared from this production chain. Uzbekistan remains one of the largest buyers of Kazakh wheat. Those grain shipments help supply Uzbek flour mills, with the finished flour then exported, including to Afghanistan. Uzbekistan also continues to import Kazakh flour, so the substitution has not been complete. Kazakhstan is also developing its agricultural processing. Exports of processed agricultural products rose 35% to $3.6 billion in 2025. In the flour market, however, the value-adding step of milling grain and exporting the flour has increasingly shifted to its neighbor. There are signs of a similar shift in the vegetable oil and fat industry, although Kazakhstan’s position here remains considerably stronger. Between September 2025 and May 2026, Kazakhstan supplied Uzbekistan with 553,000 metric tons of vegetable oils and meal and oilcake, 31% more than during the same period of the previous season. Kazakhstan accounted for more than 90% of Uzbekistan’s vegetable oil imports in 2025. For Kazakhstan, this is an example of moving beyond the simple export of agricultural raw materials. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, is expanding its own oils and fats industry. Large enterprises produced 31,200 metric tons of margarine and spreads in 2025, up 21.4% from a year earlier. Sunflower oil production is also growing. In January-August 2025, large Uzbek enterprises produced 83,500 metric tons, compared with 28,000 metric tons during the same period in 2023. Domestic production is therefore rising rapidly even as Uzbekistan continues to import large volumes of sunflower oil. Uzbekistan is also beginning to export more sunflower oil. In the first half of 2025, Uzbekistan supplied Afghanistan with more than 17,700 metric tons of sunflower oil, becoming its largest supplier during that period, according to data from agricultural market analyst Marina Sidak and as reported by APK-Inform....

Agricultural Export

Kazakhstan Agricultural Exports Rise 36% in Early 2026

Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports rose sharply during the first four months of 2026, although the government’s full-year target points to much slower growth over the remainder of the year. Exports of agricultural and processed food products reached $3 billion in January-April, up 36% from $2.2 billion during the same period of 2025, according to figures presented by Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov. The government expects the total to reach $7.2 billion by the end of 2026. More than half of last year’s export earnings, or $3.6 billion, came from processed agricultural products rather than raw commodities. The ministry aims to strengthen that trend by increasing the share of higher value-added food products in total agricultural exports. Food production increased by 14.7% during the first six months of 2026. The government aims to raise processing rates for six key product groups – meat, milk, oilseeds, corn, rice, and buckwheat – from 64% in 2025 to 70% this year. The strong performance followed two years of near-record grain production. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that Kazakhstan will export a record 11 million metric tons of wheat during the 2025-26 marketing year, after shipments rose by more than 30% during its first six months. It forecasts wheat exports falling to 7.5 million metric tons in 2026-27 as production returns toward average levels after two unusually strong harvests. The figures underline the continued importance of grain to Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports, despite the government’s efforts to increase sales of processed food products. The ministry says the government’s priorities remain improving sector efficiency and increasing production of value-added agricultural goods. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan increased revenues from processed agricultural exports by more than one-third in 2025. Agricultural exports to Iran nearly doubled, rising 97% to $238.5 million, although grain accounted for $225.3 million of that total. Agricultural trade with Turkey also increased by 25% during 2025, although the figure covers both Kazakh exports and imports from Turkey.

Agricultural Export

Kazakhstan Increased Agricultural Export Revenue by More than a Third in 2025

Export revenues from Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial complex reached $7 billion in 2025, an increase of 37% compared to the previous year. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov. A year earlier, export revenues from agriculture totaled $5.1 billion. That figure was nearly 1.7 times higher than in 2018, when Kazakhstan’s farmers exported $3.1 billion worth of products. According to Taszhurekov, more than half of the export revenue in 2025, about $3.6 billion, came from processed agricultural products. Supplies of processed goods to foreign markets grew by 35% compared to 2024, when their exports amounted to $2.7 billion. “Significant growth in production allows us not only to fully supply the domestic market, but also to actively increase export volumes,” the deputy minister said. He also noted that the share of processed products in total agricultural output continues to rise. While it accounted for about 50% in 2024, preliminary data for 2025 suggests this figure has increased to 60%. Overall, Kazakhstan’s gross agricultural output rose by 5.9% in 2025, reaching 9.8 trillion tenge (about $19.6 billion). Among the sector’s key achievements were high yields of grain and oilseeds. Last year, the country harvested 25.9 million tons of grain in net weight, including 19.3 million tons of wheat. A record harvest of oilseeds was also recorded at 4.8 million tons, along with more than 1 million tons of legumes. According to Taszhurekov, changes in the structure of cultivated areas were the result of a policy aimed at agricultural diversification. The area planted with wheat was reduced by nearly 900,000 hectares, while the area under legumes increased by 275,000 hectares and oilseed crops expanded by more than 1 million hectares. “This creates a more sustainable agricultural model and expands the raw material base for processing enterprises,” he said. One of the most promising areas of development remains deep grain processing. By 2028, Kazakhstan plans to launch new production facilities with a total capacity of 5.8 million tons per year. Investment in these projects is estimated at approximately 1.9 trillion tenge (about $3.8 billion), and more than 3,300 jobs are expected to be created. The product range will also expand, with enterprises planning to produce amino acids, syrups, vitamins, and other high-value processed products. Taszhurekov also noted the expansion of state support instruments for the agro-industrial complex. Preferential loans have been introduced for processing enterprises to purchase fixed assets at an interest rate of 2.5% and to finance working capital at a rate of 5%. In addition, investment subsidy programs have been expanded. While the standard reimbursement rate is 25%, it has been increased for several priority sectors, to 40% for sugar production and egg processing, and to 50% for high-tech agricultural industries. “Thanks to the state support measures adopted, the industry is showing steady positive dynamics,” the ministry representative said. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan also plans to bring one of its iconic agricultural products, Aport apples, to international markets.

Agriculture

Escalation in the Middle East Threatens Kyrgyzstan’s Agricultural Export Potential

Escalating tensions in the Middle East are putting pressure on Kyrgyzstan’s export routes, a significant portion of which previously transited through Iranian territory. Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and on the Caspian Sea have provided Kyrgyz producers with access to markets in the Middle East and Europe. According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, cattle exports from Kyrgyzstan declined fivefold in 2024. In 2025, domestic meat prices rose sharply amid what authorities described as uncontrolled exports of cattle carcasses, primarily to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. In response, the State Antimonopoly Service introduced maximum retail prices for lamb and beef in the domestic market and imposed a temporary ban on livestock exports to neighboring countries. To stabilize supply, the government approved meat imports from India for processing plants, while domestic production was intended to meet internal demand. Against this backdrop, many farmers shifted their focus to exporting chilled meat to Iran. In 2024, shipments resumed, beginning with an initial 10-ton consignment, after which volumes gradually increased. The Ministry of Agriculture announced plans to raise lamb exports to Iran to 1,000 tons. In addition to meat, Kyrgyz companies exported legumes, grains, and dried vegetables to Middle Eastern markets via Iranian ports. Honey, beans, and nuts were also shipped to Europe using Iranian transit routes. However, in the context of renewed military tensions, Kyrgyz exporters may now need to seek alternative logistics corridors or new destination markets. Any rerouting is likely to increase transportation costs and reduce the price competitiveness of Kyrgyz agricultural products. In 2023, the Eurasian Economic Commission signed a free trade agreement with Iran, which entered into force on May 15, 2024. The agreement provides for the creation of “green customs corridors,” the digitalization of trade procedures, and the introduction of electronic transit mechanisms. According to EEC Minister for Trade Andrey Slepnev, the deal was intended to facilitate accelerated access to the Iranian market for companies from the Eurasian Economic Union. Under the agreement, goods from EAEU member states benefit from tariff preferences, including zero or reduced import duties in Iran. Iranian products receive comparable preferences within the EAEU market. Last year, Tehran also proposed that Bishkek consider establishing its own merchant fleet, using Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea to export Kyrgyz agricultural products and expand transit opportunities.

Aport Apples

Kazakhstan Moves to Export Its Legendary Aport Apples

Kazakhstan is preparing to introduce its iconic Almaty aport apples to international markets after the variety attracted strong interest from European partners at Grune Woche 2026 in Germany. During the exhibition, QazTrade and the Association of Almaty Aport Producers signed a memorandum aimed at promoting aport apples and their processed products abroad, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan. The aport is one of Kazakhstan’s most distinctive apple varieties and is closely associated with the natural and cultural heritage of Almaty, widely regarded as the ancestral home of apples. Known for their large size, rich aroma, and juiciness, aport apples are also highly demanding to cultivate. High-quality aport can only be grown at elevations between 850 and 1,250 meters above sea level, primarily in the foothills surrounding Almaty. Unlike commercial apple varieties that begin bearing fruit within four to six years, aport trees typically require eight to nine years before producing their first harvest. Despite the longer maturation period, the apple’s distinctive qualities and heritage value position it as a premium niche product. “The main advantage of aport is its uniqueness. Unlike mass-produced varieties designed for volume and long storage, aport stands out for its vivid taste, rich aroma, and large fruit size. Our orchards are located above 850 meters above sea level, which affects the firmness of the pulp and depth of flavor. In Germany, we presented not only fresh apples but also processed products such as fruit pastilles and apple chips. We also produce aport-based juice, vinegar, and dried fruit,” said Roman Safarov, president of the Association. According to QazTrade, participation in Grüne Woche confirmed strong export potential, particularly for processed aport products. “The Almaty aport is registered as a geographical indication. This status confirms its unique characteristics shaped by the natural conditions of the Almaty foothills, special soils, clean water, and temperature fluctuations. The geographical indication protects the brand and allows it to be promoted as a premium product in international markets,” said QazTrade CEO Aitmuhammed Aldazharov. Horticulture is increasingly viewed as a strategic growth area within Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial sector. According to Yerbol Taszhurekov, apple orchards in Kazakhstan now cover nearly 29,000 hectares, concentrated mainly in the southern regions of Almaty, Turkestan, Zhambyl, and Zhetisu. In the Almaty and Zhetisu regions alone, orchards span more than 2,400 hectares and include over 416,000 trees. Kazakhstan is also working to revive the aport variety, which had previously faced near extinction. Under a targeted 2024-2028 program involving private investors and specialized nurseries, authorities aim to produce certified saplings and expand commercial cultivation. By 2027, plans call for planting at least 110 hectares of new aport orchards.

Agricultural Export

Kazakhstan May Reimpose Potato Export Ban

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, has outlined the conditions under which the government may once again restrict potato exports. In January, Kazakh authorities introduced a six-month ban on the export of potatoes to countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This measure was prompted by a surge in export demand, particularly from neighboring Uzbekistan and a 1.5-fold increase in volumes, which triggered a sharp rise in domestic prices. Zhumangarin warned that a similar scenario could unfold next year. Speaking at a government briefing, he explained the threshold for export restrictions: "Based on consumption standards of 100 kilograms per person, we need about 2 to 2.1 million tons of potatoes domestically. Therefore, when exports reach a critical level of 500 to 600 thousand tons, we will begin to restrict them. Potatoes are much more expensive in neighboring countries, and this is our competitive advantage. Our producers earn money from exports, and we do not interfere with them. But when it comes to supplying the domestic market, after selling 500 to 600 thousand tons, we will most likely close exports or introduce quotas," he said. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov, this year’s potato harvest totaled 2.9 million tons. With domestic demand at approximately 2.1 million tons, the export potential stands at around 800,000 tons. However, accounting for potential storage losses, the government is using a more conservative estimate of 500,000 to 600,000 tons. Zhumangarin stated that 300,000 tons of the new crop have already been exported, with another 200,000 tons under contract. As a result, the threshold for possible export curbs has effectively been reached. He also noted that domestic prices have stabilized. “Potatoes now cost about $0.34 per kilogram. Earlier, in the spring, they reached $0.50 to $0.70. Now the price is normal,” Zhumangarin said. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that due to frenzied demand, restrictions on potato sales to individual buyers were introduced in Astana and other major cities. At the peak of the shortage, prices reached as high as $0.96 per kilogram.