Kazakhstan holds 5.616 million tonnes of wheat as grain exports remain strong

Food wheat dominates national inventories

Kazakhstan held 6.987 million tonnes of grains and pulses as of July 1, 2026, according to data from the country’s Bureau of National Statistics reported by APK Novosti and ZOL.ru. Food-grade stocks accounted for 6.021 million tonnes of the total, while seed stocks stood at 148,000 tonnes and feed inventories at 818,000 tonnes.

Wheat remained the dominant commodity, with total stocks of 5.616 million tonnes. This included 5.132 million tonnes of food wheat, 97,000 tonnes of seed wheat and 386,000 tonnes of feed wheat. Food wheat therefore represented most of the country’s available wheat reserves, an important indicator for millers, exporters and buyers across Kazakhstan’s regional markets.

Barley was the second-largest reported grain inventory at 727,000 tonnes. The total comprised 378,000 tonnes of food barley, 31,000 tonnes reserved for seed and 317,000 tonnes classified as feed. The figures show that barley availability was more evenly divided between food and feed uses than wheat stocks.

Smaller grain stocks remain limited

Stocks of other cereals were substantially lower. Kazakhstan held 103,000 tonnes of rice, 95,000 tonnes of oats and 71,000 tonnes of maize. Millet inventories totaled 11,000 tonnes, while rye stocks were 7,654 tonnes.

The inventory data provide a snapshot of supplies near the middle of the calendar year, but they do not specify where the grain was stored, its quality by grade or how much was already committed under sales contracts. Traders will therefore need to assess the headline stock figures alongside logistics, domestic consumption and contractual availability.

The composition nevertheless points to a market centered overwhelmingly on wheat. Wheat accounted for more than four-fifths of the reported grain and pulse stock, while the volume of food wheat alone was larger than the combined inventories of all other listed cereals.

Exports outpace imports across major cereals

Kazakhstan exported 5.271 million tonnes of wheat and meslin from January through April 2026, compared with imports of 722,000 tonnes. The trade figures confirm the country’s position as a net supplier during the period, although the source did not identify destinations, prices or the split between wheat and meslin.

Barley exports reached 419,000 tonnes against imports of 69,000 tonnes. Kazakhstan also exported 76,000 tonnes of maize and imported 13,000 tonnes. Rice exports totaled 54,900 tonnes, compared with imports of 3,500 tonnes. Exports of buckwheat, millet and other cereals reached 15,000 tonnes, while imports amounted to 7,000 tonnes.

Oats and rye differed from the broader pattern. Oat imports of 8,700 tonnes exceeded exports of 3,400 tonnes. No rye exports were recorded, while imports reached 7,400 tonnes, close to the reported domestic rye stock of 7,654 tonnes. Grain sorghum trade was nearly balanced, with exports of 44.1 tonnes and imports of 43 tonnes. For regional buyers, the combination of large wheat reserves and strong export volumes supports continued attention to Kazakhstan as a supplier, while the smaller markets for oats and rye remain more dependent on incoming trade.