ASTANA, September 29. /TASS/. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture projects grain harvest at around 23 mln tons in 2026, which is lower than last year’s harvest, Vice Minister of Agriculture Nazgul Khatepova told a briefing.

"Overall, we have already harvested around 20 mln tons, which represents 83%, and we project a total grain harvest of roughly 23 mln tons, or slightly more, for this year," she said when asked about this year’s forecast.

This year’s grain harvest is expected to be lower than that of 2025 when over 27 mln tons were gathered, the official added. That said, the total grain harvest is forecast to exceed the long-term average.

In 2025, Kazakhstani farmers harvested a record grain crop of 27.1 mln tons, with an average yield of 17 centners per hectare. The ministry projects grain exports from this harvest at around 13 mln tons.

Kazakhstan traditionally exports wheat and flour to Central Asian countries, Iran, and Afghanistan. In recent years, the republic has also begun supplying grain to countries in Europe, Southeast Asia, and North Africa, including Belgium, Portugal, Norway, the UK, Vietnam, Morocco, and Algeria.