Kazakh Agricultural Export to China Soars, Crosses $650 Million
The Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, Aidarbek Saparov, announced that the country’s agricultural exports to China have doubled, reaching $653.3 million. This growth was discussed during a meeting between Saparov and a Chinese delegation on October 31.
Saparov highlighted that Kazakhstan exports to China through 1,718 domestic enterprises, with a focus on plant-based products and livestock items. The main agricultural exports include flax seeds, wheat, barley, sunflower oil, sunflower seeds, waste from processing grains and legumes, seeds and fruits of other oil crops, rapeseed oil, animal feed, and tobacco raw materials.
The minister also noted the increase in China’s annual consumption of Kazakh grain. He mentioned that this trend, along with the proximity and shared border between the two countries, positions China as a promising market for Kazakh grain and flour.
In the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade turnover between Kazakhstan and China reached $798.9 million, marking a 72.7% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Chinese imports of agricultural products to Kazakhstan during this period grew by 1.8%, totaling $145.6 million.
To further boost trade volumes, experts from the General Customs Administration of China will soon visit Kazakhstan to audit the country’s veterinary system and inspect enterprises interested in exporting livestock products. If the audit is successful, China will lift restrictions related to avian influenza and bird flu, which will boost livestock product exports to the country.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed joint projects in industrialization and investments. Currently, there are six agricultural projects valued at $426 million, with three more projects totaling $139 million in the planning stage.
Kazakhstan has signed protocols with China to export 24 plant-based and livestock products, including wheat, flax seeds, barley, alfalfa, corn, wheat bran, and animal feed. There is ongoing consideration of aligning veterinary and phytosanitary requirements for exporting another 12 types of agricultural products to China, such as potatoes, hides, mare’s milk, poultry, poultry products, horse meat, chilled beef, lamb, pork, and live cattle.
