MOSCOW: Kazakhstan is planning to tighten existing restrictions on wheat imports, according to a draft government resolution seen by Reuters.
In July, the country imposed a six-month partial ban on wheat imports, with a limited number of exemptions, including rail shipments destined for poultry farms, grain-processing enterprises, licensed grain elevators and the state-owned Food Contract Corporation.
The draft amendment seen by Reuters would remove poultry producers and grain processors, the main importers of wheat, from the list of exempted buyers.
Russia is Kazakhstan’s main wheat supplier, exporting about 2 million metric tons to the country between September 2025 and July 2026. Russian wheat exports are currently under pressure as shipments through the Azov-Black Sea export corridor have largely stalled.
At the same time, Russia is expecting a strong grain harvest. More than 110 million metric tons of grain have been harvested so far, including 83.5 million tons of wheat.