Kazakh flax starts to rise in price in key export markets

Following the past week, export prices for oilseed flax experienced a noticeable strengthening in Kazakhstan, with prospects for further growth. Meanwhile, domestic market prices remained unchanged, as reported by Yevgeny Karabanov, head of the analytics committee of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, in his Telegram channel.

According to current price data as of October 11, 2026, flax seeds on the domestic market of Kazakhstan are traded at 180–185 thousand tenge per ton EXW with 16% VAT (approximately 397–408 USD per ton), showing no changes.

At the same time, export basises demonstrated positive dynamics. The FCA basis (departure station) increased by 5 USD to reach 430–435 USD per ton. The DAP Dostyk / Altynkol basis toward China rose by 2 USD, amounting to 482–487 USD per ton.

The most significant price increase was recorded in the European direction. The C&F ARAG basis for November shipments went up by 5 USD to 645 USD per ton. Meanwhile, the DAP Poland basis for brown flax with 97% purity remained unchanged at 495–500 EUR per ton.

As analyst Yevgeny Karabanov explained, the main driver behind the price growth of Kazakh flax exported to Europe was a severe disruption in logistics chains across the Russian rail network. In October, Russian Railways (RZD) rejected applications from Kazakh senders for transporting flax to the Baltic ports of Estonia and Latvia.

The refusal was caused by severe congestion on the October Railway, which is overloaded with large volumes of Russian grain. Consequently, exporters from Kazakhstan are forced to redirect cargo traffic through alternative routes via Belarus and Lithuanian ports.

This detour logistics route costs market participants 15–20 USD per ton more, and these additional expenses are directly incorporated into the final cost of contracts with European importers.