Kazakhstan announced the end of wheat and wheat flour export restrictions that had been in effect since April 14, 2022. Since the restrictions went into effect, Kazakhstani exporters utilized 83 percent of the wheat and 66 percent of the wheat flour export quotas.

Initial reports of a good fall grain harvest helped the government decide to end the export restrictions. According to official Ministry press releases, as of September 13, almost 70 percent of Kazakhstan’s grain crops have been harvested with yields so far estimated to be at least 30 percent higher than last year. “This year we expect a wheat harvest of over 13 million tonnes, which would be a 12% increase compared with the previous year. We need about 6.5 million tonnes to meet the domestic demand. After some discussion a decision was made to lift the restrictions on grain and flour exports from September 10, 2022," the press release said.

Kazakhstan has exported nearly 3.3 million tons of wheat and meslin cereal worth $1 billion between January and July this year. It remains Central Asia’s largest grain producer, capable of exporting approximately half of all the grain it produces each year.  Wheat is the country’s largest crop by acreage, accounting for 80% of grain production, but it also produces barley, cotton, sunflower seeds, and rice.  The country is also the region’s largest flour exporter by volume, shipping mostly to other Central Asian countries and Afghanistan.