Kazakhstan's barley exports fall 30.9% as lentil shipments hit a record

According to the State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan, in September–August of the 2025/26 MY Kazakhstan sold 1.37 million tonnes of barley abroad, excluding EAEU countries. A season earlier, the figure was 1.98 million tonnes. Shipments to Iran fell the most: 595.7 thousand tonnes versus 1.228 million. China received 371.8 thousand tonnes (−16.6%). Meanwhile, Uzbekistan bought 271.4 thousand tonnes and Tajikistan 107.6 thousand tonnes. Together, these two countries overtook China.

Yevgeny Karabanov, head of the analytics committee of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, attributes the decline on the Iranian route to competition with Russian barley and military action in the Middle East. At the same time, 327.3 thousand tonnes of barley were imported from Russia into Kazakhstan during the season. The expert expects exports to keep declining, while domestic consumption and processing grow.

Pea exports reached 109 thousand tonnes (+7.9%), the second-highest result on record. The main buyer was Afghanistan: 63.4 thousand tonnes, or 58.2% of exports. Pea imports increased 2.34-fold, to 28.5 thousand tonnes.

Lentil exports hit a record 525.2 thousand tonnes, 1.6 times more than a year earlier. Türkiye purchased 454.5 thousand tonnes (85.5% of shipments) and China 32.8 thousand tonnes. Prices remained volatile throughout the season, as large harvests in the leading producing countries increased global supply.