Kazakhstan's oil and fat industry continues to strengthen its position. In 2025, 889,000 tons of vegetable oil were produced, according to APK News.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the area under oilseed crops has increased to 3.9 million hectares in 2025, representing a 37.7%, or 1.1 million hectare, increase compared to 2024. This includes an increase of 38.4%, or 491,100 hectares, under sunflower cultivation.
The North Kazakhstan, Kostanay, Pavlodar, Akmola, East Kazakhstan, and Abay regions account for the majority of the oilseed crop area.
According to current data from regional akimats, 4.8 million tons of oilseeds were harvested in 2025 (3.3 million tons in 2024), including 2.3 million tons of sunflower seeds (1.8 million tons in 2024).
The production capacity of oilseed processing plants exceeds 5 million tons per year. By the end of 2025, 888,800 tons of vegetable oil were produced, 17.4% more than the 2024 level (757,100 tons). Sunflower oil production amounted to 757,200 tons, 17.5% more than the 2024 figure.
Vegetable oil exports for the first 11 months of 2025 increased by 34.6% compared to the same period in 2024.
The main buyers are Uzbekistan (46% of the total volume), China (33.7%), Tajikistan (13.1%), Afghanistan (4.3%), and Turkmenistan (1.8%).
Kazakhstan ranks 8th in the top 10 global exporters of sunflower oil and is among the top 3 exporters of sunflower meal to the European Union.
To provide processing plants with raw materials and increase the added value of products, the Concept for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021–2030 provides for further expansion of oilseed crops.
Since February 1, 2023, export customs duties on sunflower seed exports have been in effect at 20%, but not less than €100 per ton. To expand export potential, protocols on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for the export of processed oilseed products have been signed with China.
Agricultural support programs for processing companies include preferential loans for working capital. A reduced VAT rate of 80% is also applied.