Country focus: Kazakhstan's wheat production

Kazakhstan’s wheat production is expected to rebound in 2024-25 as higher soil moisture raises yield while the government has extended by six months import restrictions on wheat. The initial ban was enacted in October 2023 for six months to prevent “gray schemes” to import cheap wheat from border regions of Russia for re-exporting. The April extension pushes the ban to mid-October, with certain exceptions. Wheat is the nation’s largest crop by acreage, accounting for 80% of grain production. Production in 2024-25 is estimated at 15.8 million tonnes, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture. A combination of drought and excessive rains resulted in a 26% drop in production in 2023-24 from the previous season to 12.1 million tonnes. Yields also were down 28% per hectare. In addition to wheat, Kazakhstan produces barley, cotton, sunflower seed and rice. Wheat and wheat flour exports in 2023-24 were estimated at 10 million ...