Kazakhstan is solidifying its role in international trade by expanding its agricultural processing sector, significantly boosting its exports of higher value-added products. As a result, China and Central Asian countries have become crucial markets for Kazakhstan, with these regions accounting for over half of the nation’s exports in 38 rapidly growing product categories.
China alone purchased $913.9 million worth of these processed goods, representing 27.4% of Kazakhstan’s exports in the specified categories. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan collectively contributed $825.7 million, or 24.8%. Meanwhile, Russia and other members of the Eurasian Economic Union accounted for 13.5% and 10.4%, respectively.
The agricultural processing industry is a key driver of this export growth. From January to August, Kazakhstan’s processed agricultural exports soared to $3.04 billion, marking a 35.1% increase compared to the same period last year. These processed products now constitute 54.1% of the country’s total agricultural export value.
Among the various products, grain and oilseed exports have shown remarkable growth. Flour exports surged by 23% in volume to 1.38 million tons, generating approximately $400 million in revenue. Exports of sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oils increased by 49% to $673 million, while rapeseed and mustard oil shipments grew 2.3 times to $90 million.
Other agricultural exports also recorded significant gains. Beef exports rose 78% to reach $164 million, and animal feed meal exports climbed 61% in value to $578 million.
To further fortify its processing industry, Kazakhstan is planning six major investment projects valued at around $4 billion. These initiatives aim to enhance the production of starch, gluten, amino acids, and bioethanol, with a combined annual processing capacity of 5.8 million tons. The expansion is anticipated to reduce reliance on raw material exports, bolster domestic manufacturing, and increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s processed goods on the global stage.