Source: Zerno.ru (Russia)
Kazakhstan has imposed a ban on the import of wheat into Kazakh territory, reports the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture. The restriction is intended to protect the domestic market and exclude the re-export of grain.
Such a decision was made on July 26, 2024 at the meeting of the Interministerial Commission on Foreign Trade Policy and Participation in International Economic Organizations. In accordance with the decision of the Interministerial Commission, the corresponding Order of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated August 19, 2024 № 278 “On some issues of import of wheat to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was approved.
The decree comes into force on August 21 and is valid until December 31, 2024.
Accordingly, until December 31, 2024, the import of wheat (HS code: 1001) by all modes of transport into the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan from third countries and from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union is prohibited, with the exception of transit of wheat through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the movement of wheat from the territory of one Member State of the Eurasian Economic Union to the territory of another Member State of the Eurasian Economic Union through the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture notes that according to statistics for the first half of this year, wheat imports amount to 1.3 million tons, which is almost equal to the annual import volume in 2023, while the domestic market has sufficient wheat stocks from last year’s harvest.
According to statistics, the country had stocks of around 6.1 million tons of grain on July 1 this year, including 5.1 million tons of wheat, of which 4 million tons were for food purposes.
“Thanks to the measures taken and the favorable weather conditions during the growing season, a good grain harvest is forecast, which will lead to an oversupply on the grain market, taking into account the carryover stocks,” the report states.