Kazakhstan Expects Oilseed Harvest to Exceed 5 Million Tonnes in 2026
Kazakhstan’s farmers expect to harvest more than five million tonnes of oilseed crops this year. That is 2.5 times more than in 2025. As the harvest grows, so does vegetable oil production. However, farmers continue to export most of their oilseeds, leaving domestic processing plants facing a shortage of raw materials, reports 24KZ.
This year, 73,000 hectares were planted with oilseed crops in the Altynsarin District of Kostanay Region. The average yield was eight centners per hectare, although some farms harvested as much as 45 centners. Experts attribute the significant difference to the effects of drought and failures to follow proper farming practices.
Tolegen Mustafin, Head of the Agricultural Department’s Sector:
- Those who followed the recommended farming practices achieved good results. Some farmers harvested 32 centners per hectare, while others managed to get as much as 45. They also benefited from favourable weather conditions.
This autumn, around one million tonnes of oilseed crops were harvested in Kostanay Region. However, local processing plants handle only 30% of the harvest. The rest of the raw material is shipped outside the region. Yuri Snigiryov, the owner of a local farm, says he sells his crops to whoever offers the highest price.
Yuri Snigiryov, Head of the Snigiryov Y. A. Farm:
- Prices have fallen slightly. Last year, for example, a tonne cost between 180,000 and 190,000 tenge, while this year it is around 160,000 tenge in our region. In southern Kazakhstan, even Shymkent Mai is currently offering 210,000 tenge per tonne. Delivery costs 30,000 tenge, though. Even so, shipping the crops there is still more profitable.
The region’s largest vegetable oil production plant is located in Fedorovsky District. It can process up to 180 tonnes of sunflower seeds and produce 50 tonnes of oil daily. However, the plant faces a shortage of raw materials in summer and is forced to reduce production.
Amanzhol Dildabekov, Director of Prombaza 7 LLP Oil Plant:
- To operate without interruptions, we need 28,000 to 30,000 tonnes of raw materials a year. We procure five to six thousand tonnes ourselves and purchase the rest. This requires working capital, especially during the procurement season. In winter, farmers tend to sell their entire harvest at once. That is why it is particularly important for us to have sufficient funds during this period to buy the required volume of sunflower seeds.
Despite the challenges with raw material supplies, vegetable oil production in Kazakhstan is recording one of the highest growth rates in the agricultural sector. Output has increased by 25% this year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan ranks sixth in the world in sunflower oil exports. Several major investment projects are currently underway in the industry. Their launch is expected to strengthen the position of domestic producers and give new momentum to the development of agricultural processing.
Authors: Botakoz Dandybayeva, Sergey Trachtenberg
