The Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan has released data on the country's grain balance. As of October 1, 2026, farms of all categories held 20 million tonnes of grain and leguminous crops, reports the APK Novosti agency.
Wheat accounts for the bulk of these stocks, totaling 15 million tonnes. Of this amount, 13.7 million tonnes (over 91%) is designated for food use, fully covering domestic market needs while also creating export potential.
Barley ranks second in volume (3.1 million tonnes), with a more balanced distribution: 1.6 million tonnes for food and 1.3 million tonnes for animal feed.
Stocks of other crops:
Rice — 380,000 tonnes
Corn — 321,000 tonnes
Oats — 251,000 tonnes
Buckwheat — 62,000 tonnes
More than half of the national stocks are concentrated in three key grain-growing regions. The Akmola region remains the clear leader (5.788 million tonnes), followed by the Kostanay region (5.150 million tonnes) and the North Kazakhstan region (4.787 million tonnes). These three regions account for over 7.7 million tonnes of wheat.
Meanwhile, the southern regions—traditionally specializing in rice cultivation—hold significant volumes of this crop. In the Kyzylorda region, 391,000 tonnes of grain are in storage, with rice making up the vast majority (373,000 tonnes of food-grade grain).
Foreign Trade
Data for January–July 2026 demonstrate Kazakhstan's high level of export activity. Exports of wheat and meslin totaled nearly 5 million tonnes, while imports amounted to 1 million tonnes.
Barley shipments to foreign markets reached 560,000 tonnes (with imports at 114,000 tonnes).
A net export position was recorded for legumes: 205,000 tonnes of dried legumes were exported, compared to 32,000 tonnes imported.
The country remains a net importer of corn and rice (corn imports: 21,000 tonnes vs. exports: 124,000 tonnes; rice imports: 4,800 tonnes vs. exports: 88,000 tonnes); this reflects the need to meet specific processing industry requirements and maintain varietal diversity.
"Surpassing the 20-million-tonne mark in total stocks is a strong indicator for the agro-industrial sector, providing a buffer against weather-related risks for the upcoming planting season," commented agricultural market analyst Dias Nurlanov. "However, the composition of wheat stocks warrants attention. Stocks of soft wheat for animal feed (624,000 tonnes) exceed those of durum wheat (36,000 tonnes) by nearly twentyfold. With global demand for durum-based pasta products rising, Kazakhstan risks missing out on a lucrative market niche. Furthermore, the net export of 205,000 tonnes of legumes confirms that we are establishing a foothold in Middle Eastern and North African markets—not merely as wheat suppliers, but as a reliable source of plant-based protein."
Current stocks allow Kazakhstan to maintain a confident position in the global market until the 2027 harvest begins, upholding its status as a key guarantor of food security in the Central Asian region.