- Export surge: Kazakhstan’s vegetable oil and meal exports to China jumped 85% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025/26, reinforcing its position as the second-largest sunflower oil supplier to China.
- Revenue growth: Foreign exchange earnings from exports to China rose 71% to $137 million in early 2025/26, after reaching $255 million over the full 2024/25 marketing year.
- Logistics boost: Improved rail coordination via the Dostyk-Alashankou crossing lifted shipment plan fulfillment from below 40% in 2023 to over 90%, underpinning the export expansion.
- Market shift: China now takes 27% of Kazakhstan’s vegetable oil and meal exports, challenging Black Sea suppliers and potentially easing regional FOB premiums.
Kazakhstan Strengthens Position in Chinese Sunflower Oil Market
Kazakhstan has become the second-largest sunflower oil exporter to China, according to National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) Chairman Yadykar Ibragimov at the Chinese Grains & Oils Congress 2026 in Shanghai. This marks a significant step-up in the country’s role in supplying vegetable oils to the Chinese market.
Export Volumes and Revenue Performance
During the first four months of the 2025/26 marketing year, Kazakhstan exported 185,700 tons of vegetable oils and meal to China, an 85% increase versus the same period a year earlier. Over the full 2024/25 season, shipments reached 354,200 tons, up 29% year-on-year.
In value terms, foreign exchange earnings from exports to China hit $137 million in the first four months of 2025/26, a 71% jump. For the complete 2024/25 season, export revenue grew 24% to $255 million, underscoring China’s growing importance as a premium outlet for Kazakh oil and fat products.
| Period | Export Volume to China (tons) | Year-on-Year Change | Export Revenue (USD million) | Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 4 months 2025/26 | 185,700 | +85% | 137 | +71% |
| Full 2024/25 | 354,200 | +29% | 255 | +24% |
China’s Share in Kazakhstan’s Oilseed Exports
China now accounts for 27% of Kazakhstan’s total vegetable oil and meal exports, making it the second-largest destination after Uzbekistan, which holds a 42% share. This shift highlights the diversification of Kazakhstan’s export geography toward high-growth Asian demand.
| Destination | Share of Kazakhstan’s Vegetable Oil & Meal Exports |
|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | 42% |
| China | 27% |
Logistics Improvements via Dostyk-Alashankou
The export expansion is closely tied to logistical upgrades. In 2024, NOPA and Kazakhstan Temir Zholy launched a pilot project to transship sunflower oil through the Dostyk-Alashankou border crossing. This initiative raised shipment plan fulfillment rates to over 90%, compared with less than 40% in 2023, sharply reducing delays and bottlenecks.
In March 2026, this coordination model was extended to granulated sunflower meal shipments using grain carriers, signaling a broader application of the rail efficiency gains across Kazakhstan’s oilseed product portfolio.
Market Implications for Regional Trade Flows
Kazakhstan’s rapid growth in Chinese sunflower oil and meal imports is reshaping regional trade patterns. With shorter rail transit times to Asian markets and improved reliability, Kazakh supplies present mounting competition for traditional Black Sea exporters such as Ukraine and Russia.
If China continues to increase purchases from Kazakhstan, some demand could be diverted from Black Sea origins, which may in turn exert downward pressure on Black Sea FOB premiums. The success of the current rail coordination framework suggests it could be replicated for other oilseed products, further enhancing Central Asia’s role in the global vegetable oil trade.
Source: Market Data
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