September 15, 2010

Kazakhstan ships more than 500,000 tonnes grain to Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan has exported more than half a million tonnes of grain to Azerbaijan as of date, according to Food Contract Corporation head Ruslan Azimov.

"Kazakhstan has already transported over 500,000 tonnes of grain to Azerbaijan," Azimov said. Kazakhstan intends to deliver one million tonnes of Kazakh wheat to the Azerbaijan market in the current marketing year.

Previously, exports did not exceed 700,000-800,000 tonnes of grain a year.

"All our grain is intended for the Azerbaijani market only. At the same time we have raised the question of reducing customs duties on imported grain by the Kazakh government. They promised to consider this issue," Azimov said.

The grain terminal, built jointly by Kazakh and Azerbaijani companies, also receives grain from Iran.

"This year Iran has good harvest of grain. This country is also supplying its products to Azerbaijan, to our grain terminal. The terminal in Baku has already received 50,000 tonnes of feed grain from Amirabad," Azimov said.

Some of Iran's grain will be mixed with Kazakh grain (which is always used as an enhancer) and processed at the mill complex which operates under the auspices of the grain terminal.