Russian Grain Storage Issues Persist Despite Open Kazakh Border

Opening borders with Kazakhstan hasn't helped Russian farmers clear their grain storage facilities. Warehouses in Altai Krai have accumulated over five million tons of harvest, reports Orda.kz citing "Altapress."

After nearly six months of restrictions, Kazakhstan lifted its ban on Russian grain imports on January 1, 2025.

However, Kazakhstan's buyers aren't rushing to purchase. Altai agricultural producers hold onto their stock, anticipating traditional spring wheat price increases.

Around 3.2 million tons of grain are stored in elevators. The remaining volumes are kept in agricultural producers' and farmers' warehouses, who have nearly doubled their storage capacity over the past two years, commented Sergey Serov, Chair of the Russian Federation committee on agricultural policy, natural resources and ecology.

Altai Krai's exports remain modest - of 2.3 million tons shipped from the region, only 720,000 tons went to foreign markets.

Grain prices remain stable: third-grade wheat - 74,448 tenge (14,400 rubles) per ton, fourth-grade - 56,870 tenge (11,000 rubles), fifth-grade - 41,360 tenge (8,000 rubles).

However, experts predict price increases in spring, which could stimulate sales and help clear the elevators.

Original Author: Alina Pak