Kazakhstan's state-owned Food Corporation, in light of the country's record-high harvest, is actively working to increase its export potential. Negotiations have been held and work has begun on introducing Kazakh grain to the Egyptian market, and it is planned to increase supplies to Afghanistan and send corn to Iran, the APK News agency reports.
As stated by the head of the Food Corporation, Asylkhan Dzhuvashev, the export potential of Kazakh grain is estimated at 12 million tons. He recalled that in 2023, low world prices and poor quality complicated the export of Kazakh wheat. In 2024, the main focus of the work was on China. Moreover, there was good demand and reasonable prices there. However, Kazakhstan was unable to transport a large volume to China due to problems with KTZ rail shipments.
Quite recently, the Food Corporation managed to establish contact with the largest buyer company from Egypt. It is planned to ship about 400 thousand tons of wheat.
Commercial offers on the readiness to supply grain to state-owned companies in Iran and Azerbaijan have also been sent through diplomatic channels.
Barley supplies to Iran have already begun. However, the corporation believes that the price offered by Iran for barley is very low, given the reduced yields in Russia and rising prices on the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan plans to increase grain supplies to the western part of Afghanistan via Turkmenistan. The Food Corporation plans to conclude the first contracts at the upcoming Kazakh-Afghan forum in Almaty at the end of October. The price is currently being discussed.
"This season, we hope for an increase in demand for Kazakh corn in Iran. Iran offers a price of $220 FOB Aktau or 70 thousand tenge at the elevator. China has a significant domestic corn harvest and does not yet intend to import from other countries. In 2020, the harvest was 260 million tons, in 2024 - 292 million tons," the head of the Food Corporation said.
It is also reported that in order to accelerate grain exports and return to traditional and new markets, it is proposed to partially subsidize transport costs for exports.