Kazakhstan: processed products now make up over 54% of agricultural exports

On November 1, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture reported that in the first eight months of 2026 exports of processed agricultural products reached $3.04 billion — 35.1% more than a year earlier. Processing's share of agricultural export value reached 54.1%. One of the main growth drivers is grain processing.

Key figures

• Processed: $3.04 billion
• Year on year: +35.1%
• Share of agri exports: 54.1%
• Grain and flour: 16 Mt
• Flour: 1.38 Mt (+23%)
• Oils: $673 million (+49%)

What changed

More than half of the farm sector's export revenue now comes from processed products — in the ministry's view, a sign of qualitative change in the export structure and of more competitive Kazakh products. In the 2025/2026 marketing year, exports of grain and flour in grain equivalent reached a record 16 million tonnes. Shipments of vegetable oils, oilcake and meal are also growing. To support processors, the ministry uses subsidized lending, investment subsidies and tax incentives: in 2024–2026 about 230 billion tenge (≈ $507 million) went to replenish their working capital.

In figures

January–August 2026 versus the same period of 2025:

• Wheat and wheat-rye flour: 1.38 million tonnes worth about $400 million; volume +23%, revenue +36%.
• Sunflower, safflower and cottonseed oils: from $453 million to $673 million (+49%).
• Rapeseed and mustard oils: from $40 million to $90 million (2.3 times).
• Feed meal: from $359 million to $578 million (+61%); volume +44%, to 2.5 million tonnes.
• Oilcake and meal: from $79 million to $113 million (+42%); volume from 430 to 597 thousand tonnes.

What it means for the buyer

Flour mills and oilseed crushers are growing their exports, which means they need more raw material at home — wheat, sunflower, rapeseed, mustard. For a farm, that is an additional buyer for the crop on top of direct grain exports. Processors value steady volumes and consistent lot quality, so choosing the crop and seed for a specific market becomes part of planning for next season.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan