Kazakhstan has begun exporting its oilseed products to Iran through the Caspian Sea in a move capable to increase supplies and diversify export routes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The first shipment of rapeseed oil was sent from the Kazakh port of Aktau, marking an important step in strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in oilseed product exports.
According to the National Association of Oilseed Processors of Kazakhstan, the first vessel, carrying 5,000 tons of rapeseed oil, was loaded on April 4. The buyer was the Iranian company Kourosh Food Industry, and the seller was one of Kazakhstan’s leading oilseed processing plants, a member of the Association.
On May 13, the loading of the second vessel, carrying 5,000 tons of sunflower oil, was completed, confirming the high interest of Iranian importers in Kazakh oilseed products and the potential of the new Caspian export route.
According to Association Chairman Yadykar Ibragimov, the Iranian market holds significant potential for the export of Kazakh oilseed products. Iran’s annual imports of vegetable oils and millcake, an important component in the production of feed for poultry and livestock, total approximately 3.5 million tons, including 1.5 million tons of vegetable oil (such as sunflower and rapeseed oils).
“Our countries share a border on the Caspian Sea and enjoy a preferential customs regime under the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran. Over the past three years, Kazakhstan has exported over 100,000 tons of oilseed products to Iran, including 94% of millcake. Launching vegetable oil exports through the port of Aktau will significantly increase supply volumes,” Ibragimov said.
According to the Association, the port of Aktau has the potential to load 3-4 vessels with oil per month, equivalent to 150,000-200,000 tons of vegetable oil per year. In the future, the volume of vegetable oil and millcake exports to Iran could exceed 500,000 tons per year.
In recent years, Kazakhstan has strengthened its position as a global leader in the export of sunflower oil and millcake. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan is the world’s 8th-largest exporter of sunflower oil and ranks among the top 3 sunflower millcake exporters to the European Union.
Photo: gov.kz
