NUR-SULTAN, KAZAKHSTAN — While Kazakhstan extended and increased its available wheat and wheat flour export quota until Sept. 30, 2022, exporters have reported a lower fill rate as of July 14, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

On June 15, Kazakhstan announced the extension of wheat and wheat flour export restrictions first imposed in April. In addition to the 1 million tonnes of wheat and 300,000 tonnes of wheat flour quotas originally announced, traders were given an additional 550,000 tonnes of wheat and 370,000 tonnes of wheat flour to export until Sept. 30. 

As of June 16, the Grain Union of Kazakhstan said 54% of the original 1 million tonnes of wheat export quota, and 91% of the original 300,000 tonnes wheat flour quota, had been exported. As of July 14, 4% of 550,000 tonnes of new wheat export quota, and 3% tonnes of 370,000 tonnes of new wheat flour export quota was exported. 

“Kazakhstani exporters reported that the relatively low fill rate was due to several factors, including higher projected wheat harvests by Central Asian importing countries, importers holding off purchases until Kazakhstani wheat prices decrease, and consumers switching to lower priced staple foods,” FAS Nur-Sultan Post said.

FAS-Nur-Sultan estimates wheat production in marketing year 2021-22 at 11.9 million tonnes with consumption at 4.5 million tonnes. Kazakhstan exported 6.4 million tonnes of wheat and wheat flour in marketing year 2021-22 (September-May), a 7% increase from the same period last year.