Kazakhstan is expected to see Russian wheat imports surge more than threefold in the 2025-2026 agricultural season, reaching 1.2 million tons, predicts Yevgeny Karabanov, a representative of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan.

Karabanov emphasized that the Russian wheat is not intended for re-export, The Caspian Post reports via Russian media.

Its main buyers are Kazakh processors, who rely on imports to meet domestic demand. In the previous 2024/25 season, Kazakhstan imported 282,000 tons of Russian wheat.

Record Kazakh Harvest

Despite reduced sowing areas, Kazakhstan harvested a record 19.3 million tons of wheat in 2025, with 12.85 million tons available for export. Key export markets include Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Global Wheat Exports

From February 1-20, Russia exported 1.66 million tons of wheat, up 10.6% compared to the same period last year. However, the number of destination countries decreased from 26 to 19, with Egypt remaining the top buyer at 416,900 tons, down 42% from last year.