27.06.2025, 19:57
Fufeng Group to Invest $800 Million in Corn Processing in Zhambyl Region
Corn Processing in Kazakhstan: $800 Million Investment with Global Export Focus
Kazakhstan and China are strengthening cooperation in agricultural processing: during an official meeting between the Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Aidarbek Saparov, and representatives of China's Fufeng Group, an investment agreement was signed to implement one of the largest agro-industrial projects in the Zhambyl region.
The initiative has received political support at the highest level — during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan, the leaders of both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic partnership. The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that this agreement marks a significant milestone in developing investment cooperation between the two nations. The Kazakh side expressed its readiness to provide comprehensive support throughout all stages of the project implementation.
The project will be executed by Fufeng Group’s subsidiary in Kazakhstan — LLP “Shengtai Biotech”. The first stage includes the construction of a deep corn processing plant, with an investment of approximately $350 million. The total investment in the industrial complex is estimated at $800 million.
The vertically integrated industrial cluster will include a starch production plant, three biofermentation facilities, a coal-fired thermal power station, and a wastewater treatment plant. Future plans include the construction of additional facilities for producing chemical components, such as hydrochloric acid and liquid ammonia.
The key products of the enterprise will include amino acids and feed additives such as lysine, glutamine, glutamic acid, leucine, threonine, and others. Export markets will primarily include Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
According to the schedule, production facilities are expected to be launched by 2029. By 2032, the enterprise aims to reach an annual processing capacity of 5 million tons of corn. Preparations will begin in 2025, with the investor planning to purchase 500 thousand tons of raw corn. In 2026, forward contracts are expected to be signed with local Kazakhstani agricultural producers.
The construction of this complex will not only foster new growth points for the region's agricultural sector but also ensure stable demand for domestic corn, expanding opportunities for processing and export of high value-added products.