Kazakhstan imported 2.9mln tons of grain from Russia in 8M2023

Kazakhstan imported 2.9 million tons of grain from Russia in eight months of 2023, according to the ministry of agriculture, Kazinform News Agency reports.

According to the national statistics bureau, the volume of grain imported from Russia to Kazakhstan reached 2.9 million tons in eight months of 2023, an official reply of the ministry to Kazinform’s request reads.

To restrain grain imports from the neighboring country, on April 10, the ministry banned grain import by motor vehicles. This contributed to some normalization of the Kazakh grain market. To further promote this result, a restriction on the import of Russian grain by rail was introduced on September 6.

As the ministry explained, grain imports restriction is introduced to protect the domestic market from Russian grain, which is illegally imported into the country without paying taxes, duties and fees, and is re-exported as Kazakhstani grain. The illegal imports and re-exports seized Kazakh grain sale markets both at the domestic and foreign markets, which hindered making a fair profit by local producers.