Kazakhstan plans to increase exports of oil and fat products to US$1.5 billion by 2028, approximately 60 per cent above the current level. The strategy focuses on expanding domestic processing, strengthening the raw material base and improving transport and logistics infrastructure. This was reported on the government’s website.
Over the past five seasons, export earnings from the sector have increased fivefold, from US$247 million to US$1.232 billion. In 2025, oil and fat products accounted for 27 per cent of the country’s total exports of processed agricultural goods, reflecting the growing role of domestic processing in Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector.
The country’s oil-processing plants have a combined annual capacity of more than 5.2 million tonnes. Between 2026 and 2028, capacity for refining vegetable oils is expected to increase 2.1-fold to more than one million tonnes a year. This will support higher production of packaged refined sunflower oil and create opportunities to expand exports of finished products.
Kazakhstan is strengthening its position in international markets. In 2025, it ranked sixth globally among sunflower oil exporters and second among suppliers to China. During the 2024–2025 season, the country also entered the top five suppliers of rapeseed oil to the Chinese market. Its products reach more than 20 countries, including China, Central Asian states, the Middle East and others.
Furthermore, the fulfilment rate for planned shipments of vegetable oils to China has exceeded 90 per cent, compared with less than 40 per cent in 2023. Over the past three seasons, Kazakhstan’s exports of oil and fat products to China have increased more than 3.7-fold.
In the longer term, the country aims to become one of the world’s three largest sunflower oil exporters and raise annual export earnings from the sector to US$2 billion.