Kazakhstan Replaces Russia as Iran's Barley Supplier This Season – Expert

Kazakhstan has significantly increased its barley exports to Iran this season, replacing Russia in this market, according to Igor Pavensky, head of the Rusagrotrans analytical center, speaking at the Winter Grain Conference in Belokurikha on Thursday.

Rusagrotrans data indicate that Kazakhstan ramped up barley supplies to Iran 39-fold year-on-year from September 2024 to January 2025 compared to the same period of the 2023-2024 season, The Caspian Post reports citing Interfax.

"For the period from September 2023 to January 2024, 16,000 tonnes of barley were shipped to Iran, and from September 2024 to January 2025, 622,000 tonnes. Kazakhstan has replaced Russia in terms of barley on Iran's market," Pavensky said.

Russia cut barley exports to Iran to 661,000 tonnes from July 1, 2024, to February 20 this year from 984,000 tonnes in the same period last season.

Pavensky also said that Russia cut overall barley exports, including to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries, 31% year-on-year to around 4.2 million tonnes during this period. Saudi Arabia increased purchases 6% to 1.387 million tonnes. Deliveries dropped 27% to 483,000 tonnes to China, and 67.7% to 125,000 tonnes to Tunisia. Supplies fell nearly 75% to 93,000 tonnes to Kazakhstan. "The export volume will obviously fall to 100,000-105,000 tonnes for the entire season overall from 530,000 tonnes the previous season," he forecasts.

Rusagrotrans said that Kazakhstan boosted barley exports nearly 1.8-fold year-on-year to around 1.07 million tonnes from September 2024 to January 2025.