Afghanistan Among Key Markets for Kazakhstan Wheat and Flour

The Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan says the country has recorded a second consecutive year of record grain production, with Afghanistan remaining one of the key markets for Kazakh wheat and flour alongside other Central Asian countries.

According to the ministry, Kazakhstan harvested 25.9 million tonnes of grain in 2025, with an average yield of 16.3 centners per hectare. Of this amount, 19.3 million tonnes consisted of wheat, marking one of the country’s strongest harvests in recent years.

Officials say higher production has also been accompanied by strong export growth. During the 2024–2025 marketing year, Kazakhstan exported grain and flour equivalent to 15.3 million tonnes, representing a 60% increase compared with the previous year.

Exports have continued to grow in the 2026 marketing year, with shipments from the new harvest reaching about 8.5 million tonnes so far , roughly 14% higher than the same period in 2025.

Kazakh grain traditionally sees strong demand across Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, while Afghanistan remains a major buyer due to its heavy reliance on imported wheat and flour for food security.

Kazakhstan has also expanded its export markets in recent years, shipping grain to countries such as Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates and several North African nations, while exports to Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia have recently resumed.

In recent months, Afghanistan’s reliance on Central Asian grain suppliers has increased as trade routes with Pakistan faced repeated disruptions. According to reports, border tensions and the suspension of trade have pushed Afghanistan to diversify its import sources, increasing purchases of wheat and flour from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.

Regional conflicts have also affected grain trade in some markets. For example, military activity involving Iran has temporarily halted some Kazakh barley shipments to that country. However, analysts say the overall impact on Kazakhstan’s grain exports has remained limited so far, as exporters redirect supplies to other regional buyers.

Kazakhstan says its agricultural products are now exported to more than 72 countries worldwide, with the value of agricultural exports rising from $3.8 billion to about $7 billion over the past five years. Officials say continued diversification of export markets and higher production could further strengthen the country’s role in regional food supply.

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