Kazakhstan feed markets grow as Russia loses EU access
Kazakhstan is expanding exports of rapeseed and sunflower meal to the European Union (EU), taking advantage of the bloc’s breakup with Russia.
Kazakhstan has partly replaced Russia as a supplier of soybean meal to the EU, Evgeniy Karabanov, head of the analytical department of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, told local news outlet APK Novosti.
In addition, the country is also ramping up exports of sunflower meal and oil. In 2024, Kazakhstan, for the first time ever, entered the list of top-3 suppliers of sunflower meal to the EU, Karabanov unveiled.
Shift toward oilseed-based feed
Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s leading wheat exporter, is strategically shifting its focus in the grain industry, aiming to significantly increase the production of oilseeds in the coming years, as Karabanov revealed.
“Export revenue from the sale of oil, meal and cake reached $562 million in 2024. Kazakhstan plans to increase exports to $1 billion per year in the coming years,” Karabanov said.
Russia loses feed market share
Restrictions on the import of Russian agricultural products to the EU keep tightening.
The European Parliament has preliminarily approved a 50% increase in customs duties on meals, vinegar, sugar and livestock feed from Russia and Belarus. Import duty on fertilisers is set to rise by 6.5%. The new tariffs still need to be adopted by the European Parliament’s plenum on May 22 to come into force.
Soybean meal supply shifting
According to Karabanov, in the part of feed and meal exports, the move has a symbolic meaning.
“In terms of feed exports, Russia used to deliver to the EU sunflower, rapeseed meal and sugar beet cake. However, with the introduction of duties, the deliveries ground to a halt last year. Russia never exported finished feed to the EU,” Karabanov said.
Russia used to be the largest sugar beet pulp supplier to the EU, delivering around 1.3 million tonnes of this product to the bloc per year. In 2023, the EU imposed protective duties against the Russian sugar beet pulp, practically suspending imports.
Sunflower meal exports surge
Kazakhstan is expanding exports of sunflower meal, a product used in feed production, including to the EU, Karabanov said.
In 2024, the country became the world’s largest exporter of sunflower meal, he revealed.
Feed targets beyond Europe
In addition to Europe, the country is exporting processed agricultural products to Central Asia and China. Kazakhstan also targets to kick off sales to the Middle East, Karabanov added.
