Kazakhstan shipped 78% of the grain export volumes to the Central Asian countries
In January-March of 2015, Kazakhstan exported 644.1 thsd tonnes of grains to the countries of Central Asia, or 78% of the general export volumes, declared the press-service of JSC Astyk Trans.
According to the announcement, in the Ist quarter of the current year Kazakhstan exported 825.5 thsd tonnes of grains, against 1.635 mln tonnes in January-March of 2014. At the same time, the harvest volumes in 2014 and 2013 were almost equal - 18 mln tonnes and 17 mln tonnes, respectively.
In particular, in the Ist quarter of 2015 the exports to the ports of the Azov-Black Sea basin decreased in 5 times compared with the same period of 2014, and totaled 15.2 thsd tonnes, as opposed to 75.7 thsd tonnes. The supplied volumes reduced, due to the low competitiveness of Kazakh grain cargoes in the price segment. Russian agrarians offer the commodities at the most attractive rates, taking into account the more favorable geographic location (approximation to the sea ports), and low share of transport costs in the final price of exported wheat.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the export potential in 2015 is estimated at 7 mln tonnes of grains. In the first half of the season-2014/15, Kazakhstan shipped 3 mln tonnes. Thus, the optimistic forecast for exports in the current MY totals nearly 4.5-5 mln tonnes, informed JSC Astyk Trans.