Fufeng starts phased $1.5 billion corn-processing project in Kazakhstan
China’s Fufeng Group has begun the next phase of a corn-processing project in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. The planned industrial park could eventually process 3 million tonnes annually, with total investment reaching about $1.5 billion.
First phase targets 500,000 tonnes a year
China’s Fufeng Group has launched the next stage of a large corn-processing investment in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region, establishing a new industrial outlet for local grain and a production base aimed primarily at export markets. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev joined the launch ceremony by video during the Kazakhstan–China investment forum on 25 September.
The first phase represents an investment of $350 million and provides capacity to process up to 500,000 tonnes of corn annually. Forbes Kazakhstan described the ceremony as the start of construction of an industrial park for deep corn processing. Moy Gorod reported that an associated amino-acid plant, SHENGTAI BIOTECH CO., LTD, had already been built in the Shu district near the JIBEK JOLY special economic zone, while the ceremony initiated the project’s next stage. The agreements underpinning the investment were reached during meetings between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Fufeng Group management at KGIR-2024 and in Shanghai.
Amino acids anchor the product portfolio
The operating complex specializes in amino acids including isoleucine, leucine, valine, threonine and glutamine. These products are used by the food and pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology companies, and manufacturers of specialized nutrition and feed additives. This shifts corn from a bulk agricultural commodity into an industrial raw material for higher-value ingredients.
According to Moy Gorod, 80% of finished production is planned for export, with the remaining 20% intended for Kazakhstan’s domestic market. The available source material does not identify destination countries, product-level volumes or expected selling prices. The export share nevertheless makes access to international customers and efficient logistics important to the plant’s economics, while domestic sales could support Kazakhstan’s food, feed and pharmaceutical supply chains.
Expansion would lift capacity to 3 million tonnes
The second stage would expand processing capacity to 3 million tonnes of corn a year and broaden the product range. Forbes Kazakhstan put investment in that stage at $1.15 billion, taking potential total investment to $1.5 billion. The industrial park is expected to create around 1,500 jobs and establish a full domestic cycle for deep grain processing.
Feedstock procurement will be central to the project’s development. The plant expects to purchase about 500,000 tonnes of corn annually during the first phase, providing Kazakh farmers with a stable large-scale buyer. Moy Gorod said this demand could encourage an increase in regional corn acreage. Expansion to 3 million tonnes would require a much larger and dependable supply network, tying the industrial project to planting decisions, yields, storage and transport capacity. For farmers, the opportunity is a long-term sales channel; for Fufeng, the challenge is securing consistent volumes and quality as production scales. The project therefore links Chinese investment and processing technology with Kazakhstan’s agricultural base, while increasing the country’s capacity to export processed ingredients rather than unprocessed grain.
