Kazakhstan is making significant strides in international markets by bolstering its agricultural processing capabilities and boosting exports of higher value-added products. This strategic move has positioned China and Central Asian neighbors as leading destinations for Kazakhstan’s processed goods. In fact, China alone accounted for $913.9 million, or 27.4%, of the country’s total exports in 38 fast-growing product categories. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan together contributed $825.7 million, representing 24.8% of these exports.
The country’s agricultural processing sector is increasingly pivotal in driving export growth. From January to August, Kazakhstan’s processed agricultural exports totaled $3.04 billion, marking a substantial 35.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, processed products made up 54.1% of the nation’s total agricultural export value.
Grain and oilseed products have been significant contributors to this growth. Flour exports surged by 23% in volume, reaching 1.38 million tons and generating approximately $400 million in revenue. Additionally, exports of sunflower, safflower, and cottonseed oils increased by 49% to $673 million, while shipments of rapeseed and mustard oils rose 2.3 times to $90 million.
Other agricultural exports also experienced robust growth. Beef exports climbed by 78% to $164 million, and animal feed meal exports increased in value by 61%, reaching $578 million.
To further enhance its processing industry, Kazakhstan is developing six key investment projects valued at around $4 billion. These projects, with a combined annual processing capacity of 5.8 million tons, aim to produce starch, gluten, amino acids, and bioethanol. This expansion is expected to reduce Kazakhstan’s reliance on raw material exports, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and improve the competitiveness of its processed products in global markets.