The government of Kazakhstan has extended the ban on wheat imports via all means of transportation until the end of 2024, according to a press release issued by the government following a meeting of the interdepartmental commission on foreign trade policy and participation in international economic organizations.
According to Report, the decision to prolong the wheat import prohibition comes amid lingering concerns over the potential influx of wheat into the country through gray schemes and its re-export by road transport from the border regions of the Russian Federation. The commission also took into account the forecasts for the grain harvest, which is expected to be higher in Kazakhstan compared to the previous year.
Kazakhstan initially introduced a temporary ban on wheat imports into the republic on April 12, 2024, which was set to remain in effect for six months.
In addition to the wheat import ban, the commission also decided to extend the prohibition on the export of breeding stock of large and small cattle from the territory of Kazakhstan for a period of six months. This decision was made in connection with the task of large-scale construction of dairy farms and support for the development of animal husbandry using the Australian method. The export ban on breeding cattle was first introduced in Kazakhstan on January 8, 2024.