Kazakhstan boosts grain, flour exports 13.6% since start of agricultural year

ASTANA. May 22 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan exported 11.7 million tonnes of grain and flour in grain equivalent from September 2025 to May 20, 2026, up 13.6% compared to the same period of the previous season, the Agriculture Ministry's press service said, citing data from Kazakhstan's national railway carrier, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways, KTZ).

Exports amounted to 10.3 million tonnes in the same period of the previous year, the ministry said.

The largest growth in shipments was recorded in the directions of Central Asia and Afghanistan. Exports to Uzbekistan increased 39.5%, from 3.5 million tonnes to 4.8 million tonnes, and to Kyrgyzstan they rose 1.5-fold from 297,000 tonnes to 457,000 tonnes.

Shipments to Afghanistan increased 2.3-fold from 1.3 million tonnes to 3 million tonnes and to Turkmenistan they rose 47.7% from 130,000 tonnes to 192,000 tonnes.

"The positive dynamics indicate high demand for Kazakh grain products in foreign markets, as well as the effectiveness of measures taken to develop export logistics and expand trade and economic cooperation with foreign partners," the Agriculture Ministry said.

As reported, the Agriculture Ministry plans to send 13 million tonnes of new harvest grain to foreign markets in the current agricultural year (September 2025 - August 2026), almost maintaining the figure of the previous agricultural year.

Kazakhstan's grain harvest grew 2% in 2025 to 27 million tonnes, with a yield of 17 centners per hectare. In 2024, farmers threshed 26.5 million tonnes with an average yield of 16 centners per hectare.