Kazakhstan expects record oilseed harvest of over 5 million tons

Kazakhstan expects a new record oilseed harvest of over 5 million tons in 2026. The forecast is supported by a significant expansion of the sown area and generally favorable crop conditions, despite drought in some regions.

According to the government, the area under oilseeds increased to approximately 5.2 million hectares this year as part of a strategy to shift from traditional grains to more marginal crops.

 

Sunflower remains the main driver of growth. Its sown area reached a record 2.2 million hectares, which is 25% more than last year and more than double the figure for 2021.

As of September 18, Kazakhstani farmers had threshed about 1.5 million hectares of oilseeds and harvested 1.4 million tons of crop with an average yield of 0.97 t/ha.

 

For comparison, in 2025, the area under oilseed crops in Kazakhstan increased from 2.73 to 3.95 million hectares, and the gross harvest increased from 3.34 to 4.95 million tons.

Sunflower production increased from 1.84 to 2.46 million tons, and rapeseed production from 0.28 to 0.63 million tons.

 

The growth in production is already allowing Kazakhstan to actively increase the processing and export of vegetable oils. In the first half of 2026, vegetable oil exports increased by 46.2%, and sunflower oil supplies by 41.2% to 481 thousand tons.

China remains the main sales destination. Further increase in production and exports of Kazakhstani sunflower oil will increase competition with Russian and Ukrainian products on the world market.