Kazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister Saparkhan Omarov assessed the export potential of his country, noting that Kazakhstan can export up to 8 million tonnes of grain and flour. “For the 2020-2021 marketing year, the export potential of Kazakhstan is about 7.5-8 million tonnes, including flour,” the minister told a government meeting on August 25.

According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, the export strategy for 2020 is aimed at maintaining dominant positions in traditional markets: in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Iran.

“The primary task is to collect the grown crop without losses, while it is necessary to take into account that, according to the forecast of Kazhydromet, heavy precipitation is expected in September in the north-eastern part of the republic,” Omarov said.

Earlier, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture Aydarkhan Saparov said that the country expects to export 8-9 million tonnes of grain and flour in the current marketing year. In general, Kazakhstan exports 7-8 million tonnes of grain per year. Prime Minister Askar Mamin said that the projected gross grain harvest this year is planned at 18 million tonnes.

Kazakhstan is one of the top 10 grain exporters in the world, exporting to over 70 countries. It is a major wheat-producing and wheat-exporting country. USDA forecasts Kazakhstan’s wheat production for MY 2020/21 at 12.8 MMT, a twelve percent increase compared to the previous MY (11.452 MMT).

COVID-related wheat and wheat flour export restrictions, which were imposed and subsequently lifted in spring this year slowed Kazakhstani wheat flour production. During January-May 2020, wheat flour production dropped twelve percent, compared to last year’s production. Kazakhstan is the second largest flour exporter, following Turkey. The Central Asian country was the world’s leading wheat flour exporter until the 2012-2013 season.