In brief
Kazakhstan harvested 24.3 million tonnes of grain in 2026, the highest tally in fifteen years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Grain exports in the first half of the year rose 9 % to 1.657 million tonnes, while the two marketing years recorded 15.5 and 16 million tonnes—a record for the country since independence. The data signifies sustained growth in the region’s agricultural output.
Kazakhstan confirmed a grain harvest of 24.3 million tonnes in 2026, the highest level recorded in fifteen years, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday. The national statistics also noted that earlier this month the grain export volume from September to October 19 reached 1.657 million tonnes, marking a 9 % rise compared to the same period a year before.
During the two marketing periods that the ministry highlighted—September 2024 to August 2025 and September 2025 to August 2026—the country exported 15.5 million tonnes and 16 million tonnes of grain, respectively. Both figures set new records for grain and flour exports since Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991.
The agriculture ministry emphasized that the 24.3 million‑tonne total is only surpassed by two prior harvests within the last fifteen years, underscoring the current crop’s exceptional productivity.
Rail operator Kazakh Temir Zholy reported that the first‑half export figure reflected a 9 % increase, suggesting a trend toward higher overseas demand for Kazakhland’s wheat and other cereals.
Support for the sector is widely viewed as a sign of the country’s continuing post‑food‑security resilience, especially as the region faces conflicting geopolitical pressures that could impinge on trade routes and market access.
Officials have not yet detailed the specific varieties or regional yields that contributed to the overall tally, but industry analysts note that favorable weather conditions across key agricultural zones appeared to bolster the harvest.
In light of these developments, Kazakhstan’s grain production trajectory positions it as one of the leading grain exporters in Central Asia, a status it has cultivated over the past decade.