Kazakhstan exported 8.1 million tons of grain in 2024, according to a report by Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ). In total, 10.6 million tons of grain were transported last year. For comparison, in 2023, grain exports amounted to 9 million tons, while total transportation reached 11.3 million tons, Kursiv.kz reports.
Uzbekistan (3.3 million tons), China (1.7 million tons, a decline of almost 23%), and Tajikistan (1.2 million tons, an increase of 20%) remain the primary markets for Kazakh grain.
Grain exports to Kyrgyzstan increased 1.9 times, reaching 140,000 tons. The markets of Iran and Azerbaijan were also restored, with exports rising to 526,000 tons (a twofold increase) and 211,000 tons (a 1.8-fold increase), respectively.
From September to December 2024, 5 million tons of new harvest grain were transported - 50% more than in the same period in 2023. Of this, 3.9 million tons were exported, marking a 57% year-on-year increase. The main export destinations were:
- Uzbekistan – 1.5 million tons (+45%)
- Tajikistan – 633,000 tons (+57%)
- China – 592,000 tons (+2%)
- Iran – 455,000 tons (30-fold increase)
- Afghanistan – 190,000 tons (+51%)
- Azerbaijan – 188,000 tons (no exports in 2023)
In early August 2024, the industry portal Eldala.kz, citing grain traders, reported that Chinese customs had completely banned wheat imports for factories registered in Xinjiang’s bonded zone. Later, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture stated that trade with China had been suspended indefinitely, requiring time and effort from traders to resume it.
KTZ also reported problems with cargo shipments to China due to new Chinese customs regulations. Despite these challenges, the government in autumn 2024 instructed an increase in grain exports to China to 3 million tons by year-end, up from the initial 2 million-ton target.
Earlier, Food Corporation announced a sharp decline in grain shipments to Iran via terminals at Aktau port due to Russia redirecting its exports to Iran through Astrakhan port.
Food Corporation also reduced the minimum grain shipment volumes to key export markets in 2024 from 205,000 tons to 150,000 tons, citing three reasons:
- High prices set by Food Corporation
- Replacement of Kazakh grain with Russian grain
- Logistics issues with KTZ
CentralAsianLIGHT.org
January 13, 2025