One third of Kazakhstan's Linseed exports to China
According to APK Inform, a Ukrainian agricultural consulting agency, according to official data released by the Kazakhstan government on January 12, China has become the main importer of Kazakhstan linseeds.
In April 2019, during the second “Belt and Road” International Cooperation Summit Forum, the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and the General Administration of Customs of China signed the Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Wheat Flour Exported to China from Kazakhstan. In September 2019, during Kazakh President Tokayev's visit to China, the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and the General Administration of Customs of China signed the "Protocol on Plant Quarantine Requirements for Kazakhstan linseed Exported to China." The signing of the "Protocol" provides the possibility for Kazakhstan wheat flour and linseed producers to enter the Chinese market.
Since China opened its market to Kazakhstan's linseed last year, Kazakhstan imported 50,900 tons of linseed in the three months of 2020/21 (September-November), accounting for 37% of Kazakhstan's linseed exports.
APK said that during this period, Kazakhstan exported a total of 137,700 tons of linseed (excluding supply to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)), which was lower than the 150,400 tons in the same period of the previous year. However, due to China's strengthened quarantine measures and prohibits the loading of all types of goods (except containerized goods) into China through the border port Dostic-Alashankou, supply has recently been interrupted.
From September to November, Kazakhstan's linseed exports to the EU totaled 75,500 tons, compared to 113,400 tons in the same period in 2019/20. According to APK Inform, the decrease in exports to the European Union is due to the reduced supply of linseed from Kazakhstan this year and competition from China.
Linseed, commonly known as flax, is an important oil crop. It is mainly produced in the alpine regions of North China and Northwest China. In recent years, due to its low output and poor economic benefits, the planting area has been greatly reduced, and domestic linseed is far from being able to meet the needs of the production, processing and consumer market.
In recent years, the enthusiasm of Kazakh farmers to plant flax has continued to increase. The reason is that flax is cheap and easy to plant, and the price of linseed is much higher than that of wheat. The output of linseed and the number of production enterprises in Kazakhstan has increased significantly. In just a few years, Kazakhstan has become one of the main exporters of linseed and linseed oil, exporting a large amount to European and Asian countries every year. China is one of the main export destination countries of Kazakhstan flax products.
