Kazakhstan is seeking to increase its volume of grain exports to China and Southeast Asia through the Gulf
The Central Asian country is a leading producer of wheat and flour. According to the agriculture ministry, the harvesting campaign takes place in more favourable weather conditions compared to the earlier season. Currently, grain harvest is forecast at 17.3mn tonnes in weight.
Traditionally, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Iran import grain from Kazakhstan but now, the country will channel its exports through Iran and the Gulf to reach Southeast Asia as well.
Crops were harvested across 6.3mn hectares in Kazakhstan, which is 25,900 hectares more than the same period last year. Nearly 6.9mt of grain with an average yield of 10.9 quintals per hectare were threshed, which is 0.2 tons per hectare more than last year, according to the regional department of agriculture as of September 14 2015.
Nearly 17.162mt of grain and leguminous crops were harvested in Kazakhstan in 2014, which is 5.9 per cent less than in 2013.
