Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
Kazakhstan has reduced grain exports abroad by almost 20%.
On January 1 this year, the volume of wheat in the domestic market amounted to 15.7 million tons. This is 34.6% more compared to the same date last year.
However, exports in 2024 decreased by 18% compared to 2023. 5.9 million tons of grain worth $1.1 billion were exported abroad.
Uzbekistan remained the main market (3.3 million tons). But supplies decreased by 5%.
Italy also bought less wheat – twice as much (252.6 thousand tons), Afghanistan – 1.7 times (251.5 thousand tons). And Turkmenistan reduced the volume of imports of local grain 12.7 times, down to 42.3 thousand tons at once
Export growth is noticeable in other directions. For example, supplies to China increased by 7.5% (579.2 thousand tons), Tajikistan – by 14% (1.1 million tons), Azerbaijan – 1.5 times (170.3 thousand tons), Kyrgyzstan – 1.9 times (60.1 thousand tons).
In addition to these countries, Kazakhstan also exports wheat to Germany, Georgia, Spain, Latvia, Norway, Pakistan, Great Britain and Turkey. But export volumes are small.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture told LS that wheat sales to Iran and Azerbaijan have resumed this season. And 1.7 million tons of wheat have already been delivered to China.
In addition, Kazakhstan is looking for new markets for sales. Negotiations are underway to export agricultural products to Azerbaijan, China, Iran, North Africa and EU countries through the ports of the Black and Baltic seas, as well as with Uzbekistan and Georgia.
According to “Kazakhstan Temir Zholy”, from the new harvest (from September 2024 to February 13, 2025) transported 6.6 million tons of grain with an increase of 44.7% compared to the same period of 2023-2024.
At the same time, 1.4 million tons were transported within Kazakhstan (+28.4%), while 5.1 million tons were exported (+49.9%).
As for imported grain, it also became less on the domestic market – 1.6 million tons (-27.4%). Almost the entire volume came from russia.