Grain export - The Times Of Central Asia

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Agricultural Export

Kazakhstan Grain Exports Surge to Iran, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia

Kazakhstan exported 12.4 million tons of grain and flour between September 2024 and July 2025, marking a 34% increase from the same period in 2023-2024, when exports totaled 9.3 million tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Kazakhstan recorded substantial export growth to key regional markets. Shipments to Uzbekistan rose by 28.2%, from 3.384 million to 4.338 million tons, while exports to Tajikistan grew by 39.2%, reaching 1.446 million tons. Deliveries to Kyrgyzstan more than doubled, increasing 2.5 times from 156,000 to 398,000 tons. Exports to Iran surged nearly 17-fold, jumping from 56,000 to 974,000 tons, and shipments to Azerbaijan skyrocketed 120-fold, from just 6,000 to 723,000 tons. A major milestone of the 2024-2025 export season was the diversification of export destinations. For the first time, Kazakh grain reached Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, Kazakhstan exported approximately 60,000 tons of wheat to Morocco and 15,000 tons to Vietnam. Grain exports to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey resumed after a five-year hiatus, and shipments of durum wheat to Italy saw significant growth. The increased volumes highlight the growing competitiveness of Kazakh grain on the international market and reinforce Kazakhstan’s standing as one of the world’s leading grain exporters.

Railway

Kazakhstan Boosts Rail Transit of Grain and Coal Through Russia

Kazakhstan has significantly increased the volume of grain and coal transported via rail through Russia, particularly along the eastern route of the North-South transport corridor. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway operator, container traffic along this corridor rose by 63% in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The North-South corridor links Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, with an annual cargo capacity of 10 million tons. Its eastern route, which passes through Kazakhstan, is emerging as a vital artery for regional trade. Grain and Container Exports on the Rise Between September 2024 and April 2025, Kazakhstan exported over 650,000 tons of grain through Russian and Baltic Sea ports. Meanwhile, containerized freight between China and Russia via Kazakhstan increased by 30% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2025, exceeding 132,000 TEU. Coal Shipments Surge Coal transit volumes saw a particularly dramatic rise. From January to March 2025, Kazakhstan exported 2.3 million tons of coal through Russian territory, an increase of 44.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Of this total, 1.3 million tons were shipped through Baltic Sea ports, while another 900,000 tons were exported via Azov and Black Sea ports, a fivefold increase over last year. At an April 28 meeting in Almaty, representatives from KTZ and Russian Railways reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation. The two sides agreed to increase shipments of Kazakh coal to Russian ports and continue developing strategic joint initiatives. In November 2024, KTZ and Russian Railways signed a landmark agreement to modernize railway infrastructure at nine key border stations. The deal includes plans to increase capacity and implement a unified digital system to streamline transportation and cross-border logistics.

Grain

Kazakhstan Reports Record Grain Harvest of 26.7 Million Tons in 2024

Kazakhstan harvested 26.7 million tons of grain in 2024, marking its largest grain yield in 13 years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The latest figures, published on January 29, slightly revise the previously reported total of 26.5 million tons, gathered from 16.7 million hectares of farmland. Kazakhstan is the largest grain producer and exporter in Central Asia, annually shipping 8 to 9 million tons of grain abroad, including 6.5 to 7.5 million tons of wheat. In 2024, exports reached 8.1 million tons. For the 2025 season, Kazakhstan aims to export approximately 12 million tons of newly harvested grain. While traditional markets such as Central Asia, Afghanistan, China, Turkey, and Italy remain key destinations, Kazakhstan is also expanding into Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. Kazakhstan has already begun exporting grain from the new harvest, with 3.7 million tons shipped between September and December 25, 2024 - a 54% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

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.

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

Kazakh Agricultural Producers Sign $1 Billion in Deals with China

Kazakhstan and China have strengthened their agricultural partnership with $1 billion in new export agreements signed on November 30 during negotiations in Beijing. The deals include a $100 million contract for Kazakh poultry products. Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister, Aidarbek Saparov, emphasized that grain, oilseeds, and vegetable oil form the bulk of the country’s agricultural exports to China. Grain exports, in particular, remain a key focus. In 2023, Kazakhstan’s grain exports to China surged 5.5-fold to 1.4 million tons. From January to September 2024, the country exported 1.1 million tons of grain to China. Both governments have agreed to raise grain exports to 2 million tons shortly. Kazakhstan has invited Chinese investors to collaborate in its agro-industrial sector, particularly in producing organic products, which command higher prices and are increasingly sought after in global markets. The country is also well-positioned to expand the production and export of high-quality livestock products, including beef, lamb, poultry, canned meat, dairy products, and honey. According to the Agriculture Ministry, Kazakhstan produces about $20 billion in agricultural goods annually. Over the past five years, agricultural exports have nearly doubled, reaching $5.4 billion. The ministry projects this figure will climb to $10 billion within the next five years.