Belarusian Commodity Exchange to Open the Door to European Markets for Kazakh Grain

Kazakh grain exporters are aiming to actively utilize the opportunities provided by the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) to promote their products, primarily wheat and barley, in European markets. This was revealed during a business seminar organized by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration in cooperation with the Embassy of Belarus in Kazakhstan, where representatives from businesses and government agencies discussed the prospects for expanding exchange-based trade between the two countries.
Rustam Abikenov, a representative of the Kazakh company AR Trade LLP, noted that his company intends to register on the BUCE platform, seeing it as an important tool for expanding export opportunities. According to him, the exchange's advantages include full transparency of trading, the ability to monitor prices, and a high level of trust between transaction participants.
Kazakh grain processors are particularly interested in accessing European markets via Belarus, as their current trade relations are mainly focused on Iran and China.
In addition to grain trade, Kazakh businesses plan to start constructing a vegetable oil production plant this year, an initiative that has already attracted interest from the Belarusian side.
Furthermore, according to Kazakhstan’s First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration Aizhan Bizhanova, Kazakhstan has significant potential for increasing exports, offering Belarusian partners over 100 product categories worth approximately $265 million.
Bilateral cooperation is also actively developing: 14 joint projects worth over $278 million are currently being implemented, creating approximately 1,800 new jobs in Kazakhstan’s regions. 11 joint enterprises are already operating successfully.
Special attention is being given to the creation of a single exchange market within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Developing an efficient exchange trading infrastructure is expected to significantly increase trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belarus while strengthening economic integration within the Union, according to Bizhanova.
According to recent data, Kazakhstan-Belarus mutual trade reached $900 million in 2024 and continues to grow steadily.
This topic was further discussed in a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, and Belarusian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Aleksei Bogdanov. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts to eliminate trade barriers and create more favorable conditions for businesses in both countries.
Minister Shakkaliyev emphasized the special importance of the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange for Kazakh entrepreneurs, as access to one of Eastern Europe’s leading trading platforms will effectively support the expansion of Kazakhstan’s export potential by increasing mutual trade turnover.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
📌 The Belarusian Commodity Exchange (BUCE) opens new opportunities for Kazakh agricultural exporters – now wheat and barley can enter European markets through a transparent and reliable trading platform.
📌 Kazakhstan and Belarus are strengthening economic cooperation – 14 joint projects worth over $278 million have been launched, creating 1,800 jobs, while trade turnover between the two countries has reached $900 million.
📌 Kazakhstan is investing in new production sectors – plans include the construction of a vegetable oil production plant, which has already attracted interest from Belarusian partners.