Russia vows not to hinder Kazakhstan’s transit of goods through its territory

Russia will not obstruct the transit of Kazakhstan’s goods to third countries, as reported by the Kazakhstani Ministry of Agriculture.

«As a result of talks between Kazakhstani Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Oksana Lut, his Russian counterpart, in January, the issue of the transit of agricultural products from Kazakhstan via Russia was successfully settled,» the agency said in a statement.

The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision (Rosselkhoznadzor) stated that the temporary ban on the import of Kazakhstan’s wheat, lentil and flax seeds imposed on Oct. 17, 2024, doesn’t apply to the products for which Kazakhstan has issued necessary phytosanitary certificates for transit to a final destination.

Another requirement is that wheat must be shipped from railcars to sea vessels only at specific sea ports to eliminate the risk of quarantine substances spreading across Russian territory.

In turn, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture pledged that the restrictions imposed by Russia on imports of Kazakhstani goods will not affect local farmers, as Russia is not a key market for these products.

«The temporary ban applies to imports of wheat, lentils and oilseeds to Russia. However, as this country fully covers its own need for these products on its own, Russia isn’t a key market for Kazakhstani agricultural producers,» the statement read.

Previously, Russia banned imports of Kazakhstani products, citing an alleged increase in the frequency of goods being contaminated with harmful germs, which Kazakhstan denied.

In late September, the Kazakh Grain Union reported that Kazakhstani exporters could not deliver wheat to Europe due to restrictions imposed by Rosselkhoznadzor. According to the union, this was a countermeasure Russia unleashed in response to Kazakhstan banning Russian wheat imports.