Kazakhstan's Agricultural Exports Hit $7 Billion in 2025, Fueled by Domestic Processing

The value of Kazakhstan's agricultural exports surged by 37% in 2025, reaching a total of $7 billion. This significant growth was driven primarily by the active development of domestic processing industries, which are transforming raw materials into higher-value goods.

Vice Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov highlighted that processing has become a key driver for the country's agro-industrial complex. The strategic goal is not only to increase raw material production but to ensure its deep processing within Kazakhstan, thereby creating products with greater added value.

"Processing forms new production chains, creates jobs in the regions, increases export potential, and ensures sustainable growth of the agrarian economy," stated Taszhurekov. "In this regard, the Head of State has set a task to increase the share of processed products to 70%."

The overall gross output of agriculture grew by 5.9% in 2025, amounting to 9.8 trillion tenge. A record harvest was achieved across several sectors: 25.9 million tons of grain (including 19.3 million tons of wheat), 4.8 million tons of oilseeds, and over 1 million tons of legumes.

A deliberate diversification of crop areas underpinned this success. Wheat sowing areas were reduced by nearly 900 thousand hectares, while areas for legumes increased by 275 thousand hectares and for oilseeds by over 1 million hectares. This shift builds a more resilient agricultural model and expands the raw material base for processors.

The food production industry saw its output rise to 3.9 trillion tenge, an increase of 8.1% year-on-year. Notable growth was recorded in canned meat (43%), cereal products (28.7%), processed fruits and vegetables (27%), butter (24.8%), vegetable oil (17.4%), and pasta (12.5%). Flour production reached 3.6 million tons.

Deep processing is gaining momentum, particularly in grain refining where three major plants produce starch, gluten, molasses, and bioethanol from over half a million tons annually.

The expansion directly boosted exports of processed goods, which grew by 35% to $3.6 billion in 2025.

Ambitious investment plans are set to continue this trend until at least 2028:

• Deep grain processing: Six new projects worth ~1.9 trillion tenge are planned.
• Oilseed processing: Thirteen projects worth ~94 billion tenge are planned.
• Dairy industry: Twelve projects worth ~41 billion tenge will add significant capacity.

The government supports this industrial push with preferential loans at rates as low as 2.5% for equipment purchases and guarantees covering up to 85% of loans through the "Damu" fund.

The strategy is already showing results: while the share of processed key raw materials was about 50% in 2024 against a target of just over half that figure; preliminary data for last year indicates it has now reached approximately 60%, moving steadily toward its ultimate goal.