KAZAKHSTAN – Kaspi Grain Way LLP has begun operations at its new grain terminal located at the Port of Kuryk on the Caspian Sea’s eastern shore.
The facility, inaugurated on November 9, marks a significant development in Kazakhstan’s agricultural export infrastructure.
The Kuryk port, located 90 kilometers from Aktau, handles diverse cargo, including grain, oil products, and fertilizers, and serves as a strategic hub for multimodal transport.
Its overall annual cargo capacity stands at 6 million tonnes. With conveyor systems capable of moving 300 tonnes per hour, the terminal represents a technological leap in grain handling within the region.
The terminal boasts an annual throughput capacity of 1 million tonnes and can store up to 28,000 tonnes of grain in 18 silos.
The first shipment, comprising 3,500 tonnes of barley, was dispatched through the port’s No. 4 pier. This project is a vital component of Kazakhstan’s 2024-2028 Sea Infrastructure Development Plan, which aims to enhance the country’s connectivity to key export markets, particularly Iran and the Caucasus regions
Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s largest grain producer and exporter, with wheat accounting for 80% of its total grain production.
The 2024-25 wheat output is projected at 15.8 million tonnes, alongside other key crops like barley, sunflower seeds, and rice. Agriculture plays a central role in the nation’s economy, contributing significantly to its social and environmental development
The new terminal is expected further to strengthen Kazakhstan’s position in global grain markets. By streamlining export routes and diversifying cargo operations, the facility will enhance the competitiveness of Kazakh grain on the international stage.
The Ministry of Transport highlighted that the terminal aligns with national efforts to boost trade efficiency and foster regional economic collaboration
This comes after recently, Kazakhstan’s grain harvest reached record high as new export markets emerge.
According to Aidarbek Saparov, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, 16.7 million hectares of cereals were sown this year, with the harvest now 99.7% complete.
The season yielded 26.5 million tons of grain, of which approximately 12 million tons are slated for export to both established and emerging markets.
Kairat Torebayev, Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration, outlined Kazakhstan’s 2023 export potential, which includes an anticipated 7-7.5 million tons of wheat, 1.4 million tons of barley, and 300,000 tons of corn.
According to him, Kazakhstan’s traditional export markets in Central Asia and Afghanistan remain critical, yet the country is also expanding to new destinations, including Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia.
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