February 15, 2012

Kazakhstan Minister of Agriculture Asylzhan Mamytbekov said that the country exported 4.8 million tonnes of grain in October-January.

"More than 4.8 million tonnes of grain (including flour in grain equivalent) were exported in October, 2011 - January, 2012 (four months). Average monthly grain transportation hit 1.2 million tonnes," Mamytbekov wrote in his Twitter microblog.

Mamytbekov said that these results were achieved due to efficient using of existing car fleet.

Kazakhstan collected more than 26 million tonnes of grain in net weight in 2011. This is a record grain harvest within the years of independence. Eight million tonnes of the grain harvest will be used for domestic consumption. Export potential is estimated at 15 million tonnes.

However, the republic has problems with grain storage and export due to a lack of grain carriers. Kazakh park grain inventory currently stands at 5,200 wagons, however the country needs roughly 15,000 carriages to implement its export plan.

"Kazakhstan needs 15,000 carriages to export one million tonnes of grain each month," Mamytbekov said earlier. Kazakhstan rented some grain carriers from other countries to export its grain harvest.