Kazakhstan ranks 11th globally in wheat production

Kazakhstan has secured an 11th-place ranking in global wheat production, capturing approximately 2.3% of the worldwide market as agricultural diversification and unprecedented transport volumes reshape the nation's economic landscape. This milestone emerges alongside a massive surge in rail logistics, matching robust harvests with record-breaking export activity across international borders.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited by Jen, Kazakhstan's share of global wheat production significantly surpasses the combined share of other Central Asian nations and Eurasian Economic Union member states, excluding Russia. Five major global regions control roughly 65% of the world's wheat supply. The European Union leads this cohort with a 17.2% share, followed by China at 16.6%, India at 14%, Russia at 10.7%, and the United States at 6.4%.

Simultaneously, the domestic agricultural framework is undergoing a deliberate transformation. The share of grain crops within the nation's total planted area has dropped from 72% to 66%. Wheat acreage has been intentionally scaled back to redirect land toward oilseeds. Oilseed cultivation has expanded to 5.2 million hectares, elevating its footprint from 13% to 18% of total agricultural land.

Harvesting operations are well underway. Farmers have successfully gathered crops across 13.5 million hectares, representing 83% of the total grain crop area. This effort has yielded 19.9 million tons of grain at an average yield of 14.7 c/ha. Government forecasts indicate the final grain harvest will exceed long-term averages. This output is projected to satisfy domestic demands for food grain, animal feed, and seed, while preserving substantial export capabilities.

Oilseed harvesting runs parallel to these efforts. Farmers have harvested 2.4 million hectares and collected 2.4 million tons so far, with expectations to exceed 5 million tons by the campaign's conclusion. To capture higher economic value, the country is scaling up deep grain processing. Six major investment initiatives carrying a combined capacity of 5.8 million tons are slated for phased rollout through 2029, backed by an estimated $4 billion in total investment. Two deep corn processing ventures already commenced operations in 2026: Kazkrahmal in the Turkistan region and a facility by Fufeng Group in the Zhambyl region.

These agricultural achievements are matched by unprecedented movement across domestic rail corridors, as detailed in Qazinform's coverage of national transport updates. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) transported a record 1.45 million tons of grain by rail in September, marking a 7% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. Export shipments via rail surged by 13%.

Out of that September total, 1.2 million tons were dispatched specifically for export markets, representing a 13% year-on-year rise. Central Asian destinations claimed the largest portion, receiving 701,000 tons — an 8% bump — which included 512,000 tons shipped to Uzbekistan, up 14%. Shipments to Afghanistan experienced a dramatic expansion, multiplying 3.4 times to reach 107,000 tons. Exports to China followed a similar trajectory, rising 2.8 times to 188,000 tons.

Transportation metrics for processed goods similarly climbed. The movement of milled grain products reached 274,000 tons in September, reflecting a 13% increase, with exports accounting for 230,000 tons, a 27% leap. Looking across the broader annual timeline, KTZ transported a cumulative 10.8 million tons of grain by rail during the first nine months of the year, up 12% from the prior year. Export volumes over this nine-month stretch reached 8.4 million tons, marking a 14% increase.

These robust transport figures build upon strong historical performance. During the previous 2025/2026 marketing year, Kazakhstan exported 15.5 million tons of grain and flour in grain equivalent. This sustained volume continues to cement the nation's reputation as a dependable supplier to the global food market.