Lentil Exports from Kazakhstan in the 2025/26 Marketing Year May Reach a Record 470 Thousand Tons

In the current 2025/26 marketing year, Kazakhstan has every chance to set an absolute record for lentil exports. According to expert estimates, the country could export around 470 thousand tons of this crop, which would be the highest figure ever recorded.

This is reported by AgroReview

Export Dynamics and Key Markets

As reported by the head of the Analytical Committee of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, Yevgeny Karabanov, in December 2025/26, the volume of lentil exports (excluding EAEU countries) amounted to 32.1 thousand tons. Although this is 40% less than in November, it is still 20% higher than the figure for December of the previous year.

Overall, from September to December 2025/26, Kazakhstan exported 302 thousand tons of lentils. This result is 1.7 times higher than the volume for the same period last season and is nearly equal to the total exports of the previous marketing year, which was considered the most successful for the country.

Supply Geography and Reasons for the Record

Turkey remains the main importer of Kazakh lentils, significantly increasing its purchases — more than 2.9 times, to 283.8 thousand tons, or 94% of total exports. In addition to Turkey, Kazakh lentils were supplied to Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, as well as individual batches to Iran, EU countries, Central Asia, and the Middle East. For China, this year has also been record-breaking: 6 thousand tons were shipped there, while only 1 thousand tons were sent during the entire previous season.

“According to Yevgeny Karabanov, the record export figures are a result of the high lentil harvest in Kazakhstan in 2025, which, according to the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, was about 720 thousand tons. It is expected that exports in the 2025/26 marketing year at the level of 470 thousand tons will become a new historical maximum for the country.”