Kazakhstan's grain industry achieves record transportation, export volumes in 2024

Kazakhstan’s grain industry reached new heights in December 2024, recording a 63 per cent increase in the transportation of new crop grain compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the national company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways), 1.4 million tons of grain were transported in December, marking a historic achievement in the country’s grain transportation, Caliber.Az reports.

The significant rise in grain transportation was driven by a surge in exports, which grew by 78 per cent, reaching 1.1 million tons. Domestic shipments also saw a 23 per cent increase. The volume of grain exports to Central Asia saw impressive growth, with Uzbekistan receiving 47 per cent more grain, Tajikistan 58 per cent more, Kyrgyzstan 14 per cent more, and Turkmenistan 5 per cent more. Notably, grain supplies to Azerbaijan resumed, amounting to 101,000 tons.

Kazakhstan also saw an increase in exports to other international markets. Grain exports to China grew by 6 per cent, while shipments to Afghanistan rose by 35 per cent. One of the key trends in December was the significant boost in shipments through the Black Sea ports, which tripled in volume, and a fourfold increase in shipments to the Baltic States.

For the entire marketing year (September-December), Kazakhstan transported over 5 million tons of new crop grain, a 50 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Domestic shipments of the new harvest amounted to more than 1 million tons, marking a 27 per cent increase. Exports accounted for 57 per cent of the total transportation volume, approximately 4 million tons.

Significant increases were seen in grain shipments to Central Asian countries, with exports to Uzbekistan up by 45 per cent, Tajikistan by 57 per cent, and Kyrgyzstan by 19 per cent. Exports to China grew by 2 per cent, while shipments to Afghanistan rose by 51 per cent. The port of Aktau to Iran experienced an extraordinary 30-fold increase in shipments. Additionally, Black Sea ports saw a 39 per cent increase in grain shipments, and supplies to the Baltic States doubled.

By Vafa Guliyeva