- Bullish: Kazakhstan’s lentil exports surged 10.8x since 2021, solidifying its position as a top-5 global supplier and supporting strong export demand.
- Bullish: Record 2025 legume harvest of 1.1 million tons underpins continued growth in export volumes and freight activity.
- Bearish: Intensifying competition with established exporters like Canada and Australia may pressure margins and basis levels over time.
- Bullish: Robust Turkish demand, absorbing 84% of lentil exports, underlines sustained vessel and logistics demand on Kazakhstan–Turkey routes.
Kazakhstan Lentil Export Surge
Kazakhstan has rapidly emerged as a top-5 global lentil exporter, competing directly with Canada, Australia, the USA, and Russia. Total legume shipments (peas, chickpeas, lentils) reached 536,000 tons in January–November 2025, a 39% increase versus full-year 2024 and a 5.3-fold jump from 101,700 tons in 2021.
Lentils are the primary growth driver. Export volumes climbed from 39,400 tons in 2021 to 425,400 tons in the first eleven months of 2025, a 10.8-fold increase. Lentils now account for 79% of Kazakhstan’s total legume export volume, underscoring the country’s structural shift toward pulse crops with strong export demand.
Export Structure and Key Destinations
Turkey is the dominant buyer of Kazakh lentils, importing 358,300 tons in January–November 2025, almost double the 188,900 tons imported in all of 2024. Secondary destinations include the UAE, Italy, and Kyrgyzstan, which together provide additional diversification but remain modest compared with Turkish demand.
| Metric | 2021 | 2024 (full year) | Jan–Nov 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total legume exports (tons) | 101,700 | ~385,000* | 536,000 |
| Lentil exports (tons) | 39,400 | 188,900 | 425,400 |
| Turkey – lentil imports from Kazakhstan (tons) | n/a | 188,900 | 358,300 |
| Share of lentils in total legume exports | n/a | n/a | 79% |
*2025 exports of 536,000 tons are 39% higher than full-year 2024, implying 2024 exports of roughly 385,000 tons.
2025 Harvest Outlook
The Ministry of Agriculture projects a record 2025 legume harvest of 1.1 million tons. Lentils dominate the crop mix at 842,000 tons, followed by 222,000 tons of peas and 22,000 tons of chickpeas. This production base strengthens Kazakhstan’s capacity to expand exports and maintain its new role in global pulse trade flows.
| Crop | 2025 Harvest Forecast (tons) | Share of Total Legumes |
|---|---|---|
| Lentils | 842,000 | 77% |
| Peas | 222,000 | 20% |
| Chickpeas | 22,000 | 2% |
| Total legumes | 1,100,000 | 100% |
On the corporate side, JSC Atameken Agro is a key player, having controlled 27% of Kazakhstan’s total lentil exports in the 2024/25 season, reinforcing the growing role of large agribusinesses in structuring export flows.
Logistics and Freight Market Implications
Kazakhstan’s rapid legume expansion is generating additional freight demand through Black Sea–linked logistics, particularly via Caspian ports that interface with westbound flows to Turkey and Mediterranean markets. With Turkey accounting for 84% of lentil exports, vessel demand on Kazakhstan–Turkey routes is likely to remain elevated into 2026.
For global traders and shipowners, the key watchpoint is whether Canada’s traditional dominance in certain lentil segments continues to erode. Further share loss by Canada or other major exporters could redirect freight corridors toward the Black Sea and Caspian systems, influencing freight spreads and basis levels for competing pulse origins across the region.
Source: Market Data
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