According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan exported 4.8 million tons of new-crop grain by railway from September to January, a 47% year-on-year increase. In total, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company, shipped 6.1 million tons of grain over the past five months, including 1.3 million tons for domestic consumption.
The largest export destination was Uzbekistan, which received 1.8 million tons, a 40% increase year-on-year, followed by Tajikistan with 724,000 tons (+50%), China with 659,000 tons (N/A) and Afghanistan with 217,000 tons (+38%). The most significant growth was seen in shipments to Iran, which surged 29-fold to 576,000 tons, and Azerbaijan, which saw an 88% increase to 266,000 tons.
Additionally, KTZ transported 3.2 million tons of flour, up 3% YoY. This included 817,000 tons for domestic consumers and 2.4 million tons for export. Central Asian nations, China and Afghanistan remained the largest importers of Kazakh flour.
Kazakhstan reported a record grain harvest last year, reaching 26.5 million tons, a 55% YoY increase. The Ministry of Trade estimated the country’s export potential at 12 million tons, while the Ministry of Agriculture called for expanding markets to Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil and Malaysia.
In 2024, KTZ shipped 10.6 million tons of grain, including 2.5 million tons within the country and 8.1 million tons abroad.
Last year, media reports indicated that the Food Contract Corporation planned to cut investments in the fixed capital of the grain terminal at the port of Aktau by half due to Russia’s export policy. Amid geopolitical tensions, Russia redirected its grain exports to Iran via the port of Astrakhan, affecting Kazakhstan’s wheat supply to the same market.
In February, Trade Minister Arman Shakkaliyev highlighted the «huge potential» to boost trade turnover with Iran to $3 billion. He said Kazakhstan is ready to supply Iran with more than 60 product categories, including grain.
