Kazakhstan harvested 24.3 million tonnes of grain: 72% of wheat is class 3

On October 30 Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture summed up the 2026 harvest campaign: 24.3 million tonnes of grain were harvested. This is one of the highest harvests in the past 15 years — only two record years brought in more. According to preliminary data, about 72% of the soft wheat delivered to elevators meets class 3.

Key figures

• Harvest: 24.3 Mt of grain
• 72% of wheat — class 3
• Gluten above 28% in 48% of samples
• Exports since Sept: 1.657 Mt (+9%)
• 29,000 combines in the harvest
• Fleet wear: 85% → 65%

Harvest quality

The ministry highlights not only the volume but also the quality of the grain. In 48% of the samples tested, gluten content exceeds 28%. In Akmola region the share of class 3 wheat reaches 90%, and of Hi-Pro wheat 70%. According to the ministry, the high quality indicators open additional opportunities to use Kazakh grain for food, to develop processing and to strengthen positions on foreign markets.

Exports, fertilizers and seeds

In the last two marketing years Kazakhstan exported 15.5 million and 16 million tonnes of grain and flour in grain equivalent — record figures since independence. According to the national company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, grain exports from September to October 19, 2026 totaled 1.657 million tonnes, 9% more than a year earlier. Over three years mineral fertilizer application nearly tripled, reaching 1.8 million tonnes in 2025; in 2026, 2.1 million tonnes have already been applied against a plan of 2.3 million tonnes. The share of elite seed has reached 12%.

Machinery in the harvest

The 2026 harvest involved more than 130,000 tractors, 29,000 grain combines, 17,000 headers and about 130,000 units of other farm machinery. Thanks to the renewal of the machinery fleet from 2023 to 2025, the wear level of machinery fell from 85% to 65%; for 2026 the renewal rate is planned to reach 8%. Since the start of the subsidized leasing program, farmers have bought more than 12,700 tractors and 2,340 grain combines through it — almost 10% of the country's entire tractor and combine fleet.

What it means for buyers

A big, good-quality harvest means more grain for sale and export and revenue for farms ahead of next season. At the same time, fleet wear is still 65% and renewal runs at about 8% a year, so replacing harvest machinery remains in the plans of many farms. The share of elite seed is 12%: the ministry links further growth in yields and quality to better seed, fertilizers and modern farming technology.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan