Posted on May, 21, 2024 at 09:42 am
Kazakhstan's wheat exports to China amounted to 592,000 tons in 2023. However, in just the first quarter of 2024, the exports surged, reaching 220,000 tons, official information source of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Zhumangarin, and Deputy Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Liu Guozhong, convened in Astana on May 16 to discuss avenues for intensifying bilateral cooperation. A focal point of their deliberations centered around agriculture, with both parties highlighting strides toward fostering barrier-free trade.
Of paramount importance was the recent lifting of restrictions on foot-and-mouth disease in February 2024, facilitating the export of meat products from southeastern regions of Kazakhstan to China. This development has reinstated Kazakhstan's ability to export high-quality livestock products to the People's Republic of China (PRC).
In extending an invitation to Chinese businessmen, Zhumangarin proposed joint ventures in Kazakhstan aimed at both production and deep processing of agricultural goods, including collaboration principles. Emphasizing Kazakhstan's readiness to export grains, oilseeds, meat, poultry, dairy and fish products, honey, feed, and other food items, Zhumangarin articulated the country's eagerness to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships.
Wheat stands out as a cornerstone crop in Kazakhstan's exports to China, with figures reflecting a robust trajectory. Over the past half-decade, crop product exports from Kazakhstan to China have skyrocketed, marking a 4.6-fold increase from 750,000 tons in 2019 to 3.5 mn tons in 2023.
A pivotal milestone in solidifying cooperation in grain trade will be the inaugural Kazakh-Chinese Grain Forum slated for June 2024 in XUAR, China. The event will witness the convergence of Kazakh and Chinese businesses, governmental agencies, and state-owned enterprises involved in regulating grain export/import.
Source: Daryo