Kazakhstan Increased Production of Oilseeds and Legumes by 2025, Reducing Wheat Areas
In 2025, the structure of agricultural land in Kazakhstan underwent significant changes. The area harvested for grain crops decreased by 5.8% compared to the previous year, reaching 15.129 million hectares. At the same time, the gross grain harvest after processing increased by 1.5%, totaling 24.948 million tons.
This is reported by AgroReview
Dynamics of Major Crops
The area under barley remained stable at 2.282 million hectares; however, the yield decreased by 6.4% to 3.593 million tons. The area allocated for corn increased by 8.6% (176 thousand hectares), allowing for a harvest of 1.006 million tons. Rice fields grew by 3.1% to 101 thousand hectares, and rice production increased by 2.5% to 526 thousand tons. The area for other grains (oats, millet, buckwheat, sorghum) decreased by 17% to 375 thousand hectares, and the harvest fell by 41% to 497 thousand tons.
The area under wheat decreased by 6.7% to 12.195 million hectares: soft wheat decreased by 5.6% (11.801 million hectares), and hard wheat by 31% (394 thousand hectares). However, the total wheat harvest increased by 4% to 19.326 million tons, marking the second-highest figure in Kazakhstan’s history after 2011. Specifically, soft wheat yielded 5.5% more (18.531 million tons), while hard wheat production fell by 22% (795 thousand tons).
Record Growth of Oilseeds and Legumes
The area under oilseeds increased by 44% to 3.95 million hectares, and the yield rose by 48% to 4.948 million tons. Among them, the area for sunflower increased by 41% (1.777 million hectares), and the harvest rose by 34% to a record 2.464 million tons. Oil flax showed the most significant growth: the area increased by 54% (1.347 million hectares), and the harvest rose by 78% (1.352 million tons). The area for rapeseed increased by 117% (323 thousand hectares), and production grew by 2.2 times to 630 thousand tons. Soybean plantings increased by 7% (106 thousand hectares), and the harvest rose by 2.4% (213 thousand tons). Safflower seed areas also showed growth: up by 16.5% (368 thousand hectares), and the harvest increased by 17% (268 thousand tons).
The area under legume crops grew by 59% to 777 thousand hectares, and the harvest increased by 56% to a record 998 thousand tons. Specifically, lentil plantings increased by 83% (641 thousand hectares), and the harvest rose by 70% (776 thousand tons). For peas, the area decreased by 15% (108 thousand hectares), but its yield increased by 17% (196 thousand tons).
Kazakhstan has increased its oilseed processing capacity to 5 million tons per year and has ambitious plans to become the third-largest sunflower producer in the world, surpassing Argentina. In 2025, oil production grew by 17.4% from 757.1 to 888.8 thousand tons, including sunflower oil, which increased by 17.5% (to 757.2 thousand tons). Oil exports increased by 34.6% over the 11 months of 2025. The main importers remain Uzbekistan (46% of exports), China (33.7%), Tajikistan (13.1%), Afghanistan (4.3%), and Turkmenistan (1.8%).
Kazakhstan has increased its oilseed processing capacity to 5 million tons per year and plans to become the third-largest sunflower producer in the world, surpassing Argentina.