🌾 Kazakhstan's Wheat Exports Roll Back to Five-Year Levels

🔹 Loss of Afghanistan and Decline in Exports to Uzbekistan: Kazakhstan has lost significant export volumes to Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, the primary buyer, also reduced imports to 2.56 million tons (compared to 3.61 million tons last season).

🔹 Growth in Exports to China: Over the past 11 months, Kazakhstan increased wheat exports to China to 590,000 tons, nearly doubling the previous year's volume.

🔹 Expected Records for Wheat and Sunflower Seed Harvest: This season, a record wheat supply of 20 million tons is expected, along with a record sunflower seed harvest of around 2 million tons.

 

Kazakhstan’s soft wheat exports in the last season have decreased to levels observed five years ago. This was announced by Viktor Aslanov, Chairman of the Kazakhstan Field Crop Union and Independent Director of NC "Food Corporation" JSC, during the fourth international Asia Grains&Oils Conference in Tashkent 2024, held in Uzbekistan’s capital on September 18-19.

 

Losses and New Markets

 

In his speech, Aslanov pointed out that despite successfully entering a new market—China—Kazakhstan lost significant export volumes to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan remains the primary buyer of Kazakhstan's soft wheat, although there was also a decline in this market: over the last 11 months, exports to Uzbekistan amounted to 2.56 million tons, significantly lower than the 3.61 million tons shipped during the same period last season.

 

Increase in Exports to China

At the same time, wheat exports to China have risen considerably. During the stated period, Kazakhstan exported 590,000 tons of wheat to China, which is significantly higher than the 344,000 tons during the same period last year.

 

Record Wheat Supply and Sunflower Seed Harvest

Aslanov also highlighted the unprecedented wheat supply in the current season, which, according to him, will reach a record 20 million tons. For comparison, in 2011, this figure was 19 million tons.

Moreover, the expert forecasts a record sunflower seed harvest, which may reach around 2 million tons. This increase is expected due to higher oilseed yields—up to 19 centners per hectare, compared to around 12 centners per hectare last year.

 

The current situation with wheat exports and oilseed crops in Kazakhstan presents mixed results: successful expansion into new markets such as China is accompanied by the loss of traditional buyers and internal records for yields. In the near future, Kazakhstani producers will face both new challenges and opportunities, requiring adaptation and flexibility in the country's agricultural policy.