In September, China Became the Key Sales Market for Kazakh Sunflower

China continues to solidify its position as the top importer of sunflower seeds from Kazakhstan, having purchased 99% of Kazakhstan's total sunflower export volume in September of the 2026/27 marketing year. During the previous season, this figure was lower, standing at 79%, according to Yevgeny Karabanov, Head of the Analytics Committee of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, citing data from the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Official data indicates that Kazakhstan's sunflower seed exports in September (excluding EAEU countries) totaled 9.2 thousand tonnes. This volume shows substantial growth, exceeding August figures by 1.88 times and surpassing September 2025/26 MY levels by 2.42 times.

Out of this total volume, 9.1 thousand tonnes were shipped to China. Analysts note that compared to the same period of the previous season, sunflower exports to the Chinese market have increased threefold.

Concurrently, shipments to other traditional destinations in Central Asia declined. Sunflower seed exports to Uzbekistan dropped from 0.2 thousand tonnes to zero, while supplies to Tajikistan halved to 0.1 thousand tonnes.

Along with raw material exports, official statistics highlight dynamic growth in domestic processing. The production of all types of sunflower oil in September 2026/27 MY reached 55.7 thousand tonnes, representing a 46.6% increase compared to September of the previous marketing year.