China doubles imports of Kazakhstani flour

Between January and November 2024, China imported 15,100 tons of wheat or maslin flour from Kazakhstan, valued at $3.4 million. This marks a 2.5-fold increase in volume and a 1.6-fold increase in value year-on-year, according to customs data.

In 2024, China became the largest buyer of Kazakhstani barley and the third-largest importer of its wheat. Overall, Kazakhstan exported 1.6 million tons of flour (-7%) for $448.4 million (-12.47%) between January and November. Afghanistan remained the top consumer of Kazakhstani flour, purchasing 1.1 million tons (-3.8%) for $288.7 million (-13.39%).

Uzbekistan imported 403,800 tons of flour (-17.9%) worth $128.5 million (-14.49%), while Tajikistan purchased 54,900 tons (+15.2%) valued at $15.5 million (+19.95%). Turkmenistan imported 33,790 tons (-15%) for $12.1 million (-10.05%).

More than a decade ago, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan imported significantly higher volumes of flour from Kazakhstan. However, both countries have since shifted to primarily purchasing Kazakhstani wheat, introducing excise taxes on flour imports. At the same time, local businesses in these countries established milling facilities to process imported wheat. This shift has led to a decline in export revenue for Kazakhstan and has adversely affected local livestock breeders, who no longer benefit from byproducts of flour production, such as fodder. Despite repeated appeals from domestic flour millers, Kazakhstan’s government has refrained from imposing reciprocal trade measures on sensitive export items from Uzbekistan.

In the first 11 months of 2024, Uzbekistan imported 2.8 million tons of wheat from Kazakhstan (-14.4%) worth $532.9 million (-28.47%). Other key importers included:

• Tajikistan: 974,000 tons (+9.6%) for $220.6 million (-4.46%).
• China: 549,000 tons (+5.7%) for $108.4 million (-23.48%).
• Italy: 225,900 tons (-54.2%) for $50.8 million (-69.11%).
• Afghanistan: 203,600 tons (-51.3%) for $35.1 million (-66.48%).
• Azerbaijan: 83,000 tons (-25.3%) for $17.1 million (-51.95%).
• Turkmenistan: 28,800 tons (-94.5%) for $6 million (-96.54%).

Meanwhile, Latvia imported 20,100 tons (-60.9%) for $6.2 million (-69.36%), while Norway increased its imports to 7,800 tons (up 1.73 times) worth $2.34 million (+16.09%).

In total, Kazakhstan exported 4.9 million tons of wheat (-26.7%) worth $979.7 million (-43.65%) during the reporting period.

Kazakhstan’s barley exports experienced notable growth in the same period, with 1.382 million tons (+17.5%) exported for $231.3 million (-4.53%). This growth was primarily driven by renewed interest from Iran, which imported 420,300 tons (2.5 times more) valued at $69.5 million (1.7 times more). Other major barley importers included China, which purchased 739,300 tons (-7.4%) for $131.5 million (-22.76%); Uzbekistan, which bought 140,800 tons (-4%) for $19.5 million (-3.29%); Tajikistan, which acquired 66,300 tons (+48.3%) for $8.1 million (-6.12%); and Azerbaijan, a new importer, which imported 13,100 tons for $2.3 million (-6.12%).