Trade turnover of agricultural products and processed goods totaled $345 million between Kazakhstan and China in 2017. The value was increased by 32 percent last year compared to 2016.

Kazakhstan’s export to China includes frozen fish, sunflower seeds and oilseeds, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, vegetable oil and honey. In the next few years, wheat and flour made in Kazakhstan will also be shipped to the Chinese market.

JIA JUNQI, SALESMAN, CHINESE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE:
- Last year, we shipped 40,000 tonnes of vegetable oil and over 30,000 tonnes of grain and flour to Xi’an. We sell them with the “Made In Kazakhstan” label. Local consumers are pleased with the quality of the products.

LI XIANYU, XI’AN CITY RESIDENT:
-Dough made from Kazakh flour is thin and at the same time elastic. We make very delicious dumplings. What is important, we don’t need to add any additives.

In the future, Kazakh producers are planning to export processed rape seeds. The Kazakh and Chinese officials have signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements to rapeseed meal. The Chinese party also acknowledged Kazakhstan as a country that is free from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccinations in five regions. This gives the opportunity for Kazakhstan to export animal products and cattle to China based on the agreed veterinary certificates.

GULMIRA ISSAYEVA, KAZAKH VICE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE:
- It will allow our oil processing plants to start exporting high-quality rapeseed fodder for animals in addition to the currently exported vegetable oil.

Last year, Kazakh farmers exported over 7.5 thousand tonnes of soya beans worth over US$3 million for the first time and 228 horses worth US$190,000.