23.10.2026, 01:25
Kazakhstan Has Exported More Than 1.37 Million Tonnes of Wheat Flour Since the Beginning of the Year
Afghanistan remains the largest buyer of Kazakh flour, with 874,300 tonnes supplied to the country between January and August
Kazakhstan increased its wheat flour exports in January–August 2026. Growth was recorded in both physical volumes and the value of shipments. This was reported by the Union of Grain Processors of Kazakhstan, citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the first eight months of the year, Kazakhstan supplied 1,376,181 tonnes of wheat flour classified under HS Code 1101 to foreign markets. Compared with the corresponding period of 2025, when exports amounted to 1,105,063 tonnes, shipments increased by 24.5%, or 271,100 tonnes.
Export revenue grew at an even faster rate. Its value reached USD 399.9 million, compared with USD 286.4 million a year earlier. This represents an increase of 39.6%, or USD 113.5 million.
According to Zh. Motyshev, President of the Union of Grain Processors of Kazakhstan, Afghanistan remains the largest buyer of Kazakh flour. In January–August 2026, Kazakhstan exported 874,300 tonnes of flour to Afghanistan, up 47.5% from the previous year. The value of these shipments increased by 70%, reaching USD 246.8 million.
Uzbekistan ranks second among the main export destinations. During the reporting period, shipments to the Uzbek market amounted to 222,200 tonnes, a decrease of 13% compared with January–August 2025. Despite this decline, Uzbekistan remains one of the key markets for Kazakhstan's flour-milling enterprises.
Positive trends were also recorded in other export destinations. Wheat flour shipments to Kyrgyzstan increased by 14.9%, reaching 134,400 tonnes. Exports to Turkmenistan rose by 13.3% to 80,000 tonnes, while shipments to Tajikistan increased by 53.1% to 45,900 tonnes.
In addition, the volume of shipments to Russia grew by 13.5%, while exports to Belarus doubled. According to the industry association, growth in several foreign markets was recorded not only in physical volumes but also in monetary terms.
Feed flour and feed mixtures remain a separate export category. During the first eight months of 2026, their overseas shipments reached 2.4 million tonnes. In monetary terms, exports of these products amounted to USD 577.6 million.
The Union of Grain Processors of Kazakhstan notes that the increase in shipments and export revenue reflects the development of the domestic flour-milling industry in international markets. Despite growing competition in the region, Kazakh enterprises continue to expand their sales geography and increase export volumes.
According to Zh. Motyshev, both higher physical shipment volumes and increased foreign currency earnings are important for the industry. This creates additional opportunities for the development of grain-processing enterprises and the further expansion of domestic production.
Grain processing encompasses a wide range of value-added products. In addition to food-grade flour, these include pasta, bakery and confectionery products, bran, starch, gluten, amino acids, bioethanol and other products used in the food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
The development of subsequent processing stages is associated with job creation, increased tax revenues, expanded production capabilities and the retention of capital within the national economy.
Kazakhstan's flour-milling industry continues to develop its export markets as part of implementing the President's directive to increase the share of processed products in exports to 70%.
