The reserves of grain crops in Kazakhstan still exceed the figures for the past season
The volume of stocks of grain crops in Kazakhstan as of February 1, 2018 amounted to 14.2 million tons. The same indicator of the past year was 13.1 million tons. Indicators of this year exceed last year’s by almost 1.1 million tons or by 8.3%.
Reduction of grain stocks became possible in January due to the intensified grain exports. It should be recalled that grain exports in January 2018 increased in comparison with exports in December and January of last year.
According to the data received from the Kazakhstani railway, 830.000 tons of grain were exported from Kazakhstan during the first month of this year, while in December last year 790.300 tons of grain were transported by rail to the foreign markets. So, the increase by almost 40 thousand tons, or by 5%, in percentage terms is observed.
It should be clarified that the indicator as of February 1, 2018 exceeds the same indicator for the last six years. So, during the period from 2013 to 2018 the growth was 0.25 million tons or 18.4%.
According to the latest data, grain reserves in Kazakhstan are still higher than last season. As of March 2018, grain stocks amounted to 19.5 million tons, which is 2.2% more than on the same date last year. This is due to a successful harvest and increased productivity of land last year. However, such a high level of reserves may lead to a drop in grain prices and worsen the economic situation in the agricultural sector. Therefore, measures need to be taken to stimulate grain exports to global markets and develop the processing industry in the country.