Sunflower Husk Exports Brought Kazakhstan Over $3 Million in Foreign Exchange Earnings

Kazakhstan has significantly boosted its exports of pelletized sunflower husks, with revenues from the sale of this product increasing by more than 6 times to reach $3.4 million during the first nine months of 2026. According to the National Association of Oilseed Processors (NAOP), the European Union remains the primary sales market, where this raw material is utilized as eco-friendly biomass fuel at thermal power plants.

During January–September 2026, external shipments of fuel pellets totaled 63.2 thousand tons, which is 3.56 times higher than the results of the same period last year. By comparison, throughout the entire year of 2025, Kazakhstan exported only 33.4 thousand tons of sunflower husks worth slightly over $1 million, with Poland acting as the primary buyer, accounting for approximately 98% of total exports.

Association representatives noted that the capacity of the European market is immense, as the demand of a single large power plant can reach up to 30 thousand tons of biofuel monthly. Sunflower husks are a byproduct of vegetable oil production, comprising 14% to 18% of the processed raw material volume. NAOP Chairman of the Board Yadykar Ibragimov explained that most medium and large crushing plants in the country have automated the separation process, burning a portion of the waste in their own boilers to generate steam while pelletizing the surplus.

To date, about 10 processing plants in Kazakhstan are engaged in turning husks into pellets. Their combined processing capacity reaches 10 thousand tons per month, with nearly the entire volume directed to foreign markets. Industry experts highlight three main benefits of this operational model: zero waste through internal heat generation, supplementary foreign exchange revenue from surplus sales, and optimized logistics via pellet compression, which simplifies storage and transport to Europe.

Looking ahead to the medium term, the Association forecasts that the republic could export up to 250 thousand tons of pelletized husks annually—nearly 7.5 times more than the total volume recorded in 2025. This projected growth will be driven by expanding sunflower planting areas, upgraded domestic processing capacities, and steadily high demand for alternative energy sources across Europe.