NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN — Kazakhstan’s wheat and barley production outlook slips based on poor weather conditions, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA lowered its 2021-22 marketing year wheat production estimate to 13.2 million tonnes from 14 million tonnes due to hot, dry weather impacting planting conditions and dry soil.

Despite a decrease in production, exports of the commodity are anticipated to increase slightly to 7.7 million tonnes as high Russian prices are giving Kazakhstani exports of wheat a leg up. However, a lowered production forecast also has decreased the USDA’s wheat stock estimate for the 2021-22 marketing year to 103,200 tonnes.

The country’s barley production also was challenged with lack of soil moisture issues and dust storms. The USDA expects barley production to fall 0.6 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year to 3.4 million tonnes.

Barley primarily is used for livestock feed in Kazakhstan and consumption of the commodity for the 2021-22 marketing year is anticipated to remain steady at two million tonnes.

Unlike the production estimate, the USDA is forecasting a slight increase in barley exports to 1.2 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year due to slowly recovering exports to Iran and China.  

Barley stocks are expected to rise as the USDA expects low-quality barley not qualified for exports to be held as stocks. About 605,000 tonnes of barley stocks are expected for the 2021-22 marketing year.