04.08.2025, 18:11
From Uzbekistan to the United Kingdom: Kazakhstan Expands Grain Export Geography
Kazakhstan expands grain exports by one-third and enters new European markets
The 2024–2025 export season has become truly breakthrough for Kazakhstan. The country not only increased its exports of grain and flour by a third, but also entered the markets of several European countries for the first time, strengthening its position as a key player in the global agricultural arena. The total export volume reached 12.4 million tonnes, indicating growing international demand for Kazakhstani products.
According to data provided by "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" (KTZ) for the period from September 2024 to July 2025, Kazakhstan demonstrated a significant increase in the export of grain and flour in grain equivalent. The volume of shipments rose by 34%, exceeding the figure of the same period last season, when 9.3 million tonnes were exported.
Traditional markets in Central Asia showed a significant strengthening of trade ties. Shipments to Uzbekistan grew by 28.2%, reaching 4.34 million tonnes compared to 3.38 million tonnes a year earlier. Exports to Tajikistan increased by 39.2% (from 1.04 million to 1.45 million tonnes), and to Kyrgyzstan by 2.5 times (from 156 thousand to 398 thousand tonnes).
Especially impressive dynamics were shown in exports to the Caspian region. Exports to Iran grew 17.3 times, skyrocketing from 56 thousand to 974 thousand tonnes. A record surge was recorded in trade with Azerbaijan, which received 723 thousand tonnes of products, compared to just 6 thousand tonnes in the previous season—a 120-fold increase.
A key achievement of the current season was the significant expansion of export geography. Kazakh grain found buyers in Europe for the first time. The list of importing countries included Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Norway, and the United Kingdom, opening up completely new opportunities for Kazakhstani farmers.
In addition, exports to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey were resumed after a five-year hiatus. Shipments of durum wheat to Italy increased notably, confirming the high quality of Kazakh grain.
Interest in Kazakh grain is also growing among new partners. Buyers from the UAE, Vietnam, and North African countries are among the promising markets. Through the national operator "Prodcorporation" (NC Food Contract Corporation), the first major shipments have already been made: about 60 thousand tonnes of wheat were sent to Morocco and 15 thousand tonnes to Vietnam.
These results clearly demonstrate the high competitiveness of Kazakhstani grain on the global market. This success was made possible thanks to a set of government support measures aimed at developing the export potential of the agro-industrial complex and the systematic modernization of transport and logistics infrastructure.