Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Exports to Iran Nearly Double in 2025

Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Iran nearly doubled in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in grain shipments, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said during talks with Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Seyyed Mohammad Atabak. According to Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Ministry, agricultural trade between the two countries rose 55.8% year-on-year to $342 million in 2025, accounting for 79% of total bilateral trade. Exports of Kazakhstan's agricultural products increased 97% to $238.5 million. Grain exports more than doubled to 1.1 million metric tons, valued at $225.3 million, Saparov said. “Kazakhstan attaches special importance to expanding cooperation with Iran in the agricultural sector. Our markets complement each other, as demonstrated by the steady growth in bilateral agricultural trade,” he said. The ministers discussed prospects for expanding trade in agricultural products, investment cooperation, and the development of joint projects in the agro-industrial sector. Particular attention was given to increasing Kazakhstan's exports of grain, beef, and lamb that meet international veterinary and halal standards. The two sides also highlighted the potential for expanding supplies of vegetable oils and other food products to the Iranian market. Atabak said Iran was interested in expanding economic ties with Kazakhstan, including through increased agricultural trade, improved transport links, and joint processing projects. “Kazakhstan is an important partner for Iran in the region. We are interested in increasing bilateral trade, expanding agricultural supplies, developing logistics routes, and implementing joint projects in processing and agro-industrial cooperation,” he said. Saparov also invited Iranian investors to participate in projects involving agricultural production and value-added processing, including grain and oilseed processing facilities. The growth in agricultural trade comes despite disruptions to some bilateral projects earlier this year. In April, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Issetov said several joint projects with Iran had been suspended because of military hostilities there. Trade ties have nevertheless continued to expand. In May, Kazakhstan's vegetable oil producers launched pilot shipments of rapeseed and sunflower oil to Iran via the Caspian Sea, opening a new export route for the sector. Kazakhstan and Iran have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to $1 billion in the coming years, with plans to double that figure over the longer term, following agreements reached during Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Astana last year.

Kazakhstan Ready to Become Key Food Hub in Eurasia

Tajikistan is hosting the 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe from May 11 to 15, bringing together members of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations from Europe and Central Asia for discussions on regional food security and agricultural development priorities. The conference has gathered agriculture ministers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to address the most pressing challenges facing the sector, review FAO activities in Europe and Central Asia in 2024-2025, and outline priorities for 2026-2027. Speaking at the conference, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov said the country occupies a strategically important position in the global food security system and remains among the world’s leading grain producers. According to Saparov, Kazakhstan harvested around 27 million tons of grain for the second consecutive year in 2025, along with nearly 5 million tons of oilseeds and approximately 1 million tons of legumes. During the latest agricultural season, the country exported 15.3 million tons of grain. Kazakhstan currently ranks 10th globally in grain exports, second in flour exports, and eighth in sunflower oil exports, supplying agricultural products to around 50 countries. “Against the backdrop of population growth, climate change, and instability in global markets, food security is becoming a key factor in the sustainable development of states. Under these conditions, Kazakhstan is capable of occupying a strategic niche as a regional center for the production, storage, processing, and supply of grain products,” Saparov said. The minister added that Kazakhstan is implementing a comprehensive livestock development plan for 2026-2030 aimed at increasing livestock numbers and expanding the sector’s export potential. Saparov said Kazakhstan possesses the resources necessary to strengthen its position as one of Eurasia’s key food hubs and is prepared to ensure stable, rapid, and cost-effective supplies of grain and processed grain products to Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and other regions.