Kazakhstan is bolstering its position in international markets by expanding its agricultural processing sector, which has significantly increased exports of higher value-added products. China and Central Asian nations, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, are leading destinations for these exports, collectively accounting for more than half of Kazakhstan’s exports in 38 fast-growing product categories.
Between January and August, Kazakhstan’s processed agricultural exports reached $3.04 billion, a 35.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Processed products now make up 54.1% of the country’s total agricultural export value. China alone purchased $913.9 million worth of these products, representing 27.4% of total exports in the selected categories. Exports to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan collectively amounted to $825.7 million, or 24.8% of the total.
The growth in exports is largely attributed to the robust performance of grain and oilseed products. Kazakhstan’s flour exports rose by 23% in volume, reaching 1.38 million tons and generating approximately $400 million. Meanwhile, exports of sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oils increased by 49% to $673 million, and shipments of rapeseed and mustard oil surged 2.3 times to $90 million.
Other agricultural exports also experienced notable growth. Beef exports increased by 78% to $164 million, while animal feed meal exports rose by 61% in value to $578 million. These figures highlight the significant impact of agricultural processing on Kazakhstan’s export-driven economic strategy.
To further enhance its processing industry, Kazakhstan is developing six major investment projects valued at approximately $4 billion. These projects aim to produce starch, gluten, amino acids, and bioethanol, with a combined annual processing capacity of 5.8 million tons. This expansion is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on raw material exports, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and boost the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s processed goods in global markets.