Kazakhstan Sets Sights on Becoming One of the World’s Top Three Sunflower Oil Exporters

Kazakhstan’s oil and fat industry is demonstrating strong momentum as part of the presidential program aimed at increasing the share of processed agricultural products to 70%. According to the head of the National Association of Oilseed Processors, the country has already secured eighth place in the global ranking of sunflower oil exporters.

Industry statistics indicate steady growth across key indicators. In the first ten months of 2025, exports of refined sunflower oil exceeded 132,000 tonnes, nearly doubling compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the share of higher value-added products in total exports increased from 18% to 25%.

The association’s leadership expects Kazakhstan to rise to sixth place in the global ranking by the end of the year. In the medium term, the industry aims to enter the world’s top five exporters and ultimately secure a position among the top three global suppliers of sunflower oil.

These ambitions are supported by concrete investment plans. In 2026, four large-scale refining facilities with a combined annual capacity of 370,000 tonnes are scheduled to come online. Industry experts believe that the implementation of these projects will significantly strengthen Kazakhstan’s presence in Central Asian and Middle Eastern markets over the next two to three years.