Kazakhstan may start wheat export to China

“China can be one of the major sales markets for Kazakh grain in the future,” Maykenov said.

The JSC board head recalled that a test batch of Kazakh grain was delivered to China in December 2013, although negotiations on putting these goods on to the Chinese market were held long ago.

“Why was the negotiation process delayed, even though China is near and transportation costs are small? The problem was due to China’s strict conditions for packaging and transportation of grain from other countries, as well the sanitary and epidemiological requirements. Additionally, China supports its producers by imposing quotas for foreign suppliers of grain,” Maykenov said.

Agreement on the supply of flour and grain from Kazakhstan to China was reached at the meetings of the heads of the two states in April and September 2013.

During December 2013, the Food Corporation of Kazakhstan exported around 10,000 tons of wheat to China. Currently, it is planned to hold further talks on increasing exports.

Farm ministry officials in Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s biggest grains producer, pegged the domestic harvest at 18.98 mln tonnes, a sharp increase on last year’s 12.9 mln tonnes harvest.