Russia Seeking Lower Grain Transit Tariffs with Kazakhstan in 2025

Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said that Russia plans to reach an agreement with Kazakhstan in 2025 to reduce transit tariffs for the transportation of Russian grain from Siberia through its territory, Orda.kz reports, citing TASS.

Lower transit tariffs are crucial for increasing Russian grain exports to southern markets via rail.

We have Kazakhstan and southern markets that are accessible by rail. However, due to high transit tariffs, transportation volumes remain low. We are striving to achieve tariff parity with residents of Kazakhstan in order to gain competitive advantages. We hope that this issue will be resolved this year, the Minister noted.

Lut said Kazakhstan seeks cooperation with Russian grain traders for international market access through Russian ports, aligning with Kazakhstan's plans to double grain exports by 2028.

Kazakhstan's record wheat harvest has lowered domestic prices.

That's why when they lifted the import ban on January 1, nothing went because the price there was very low. Why would they need our grain when theirs was cheaper, said Lut.

Kazakhstan's Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov recently met with Lut in Moscow to discuss transit matters. 

Kazakhstan's wheat import ban from August 21 to December 31, 2024, was due to surplus harvest.

Since January 1, 2025, Kazakhstan has reopened its borders to Russian grain, though market stability remains uncertain.

Original Author: Rimma Karatayeva