NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN — Kazakhstan, which recently implemented export quotas for wheat and flour of 200,000 tonnes and 70,000 tonnes, respectively, said on April 8 that it will increase the export quotas in the coming months.

Kazakhstan opted to limit exports last month to ensure steady domestic supply amid border closings and lockdowns caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said no specific date had been set for the quota increase.

According to an April 7 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the US Department of Agriculture, Kazakhstan initially planned to ban all flour exports while not limiting grain exports. However, that plan was revised to the current quota system due to concern expressed by the Kazakhstan milling industry.

Kazakhstan is perennially among the world’s leading flour exporters.

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