China was the leading importer of Kazakh flaxseed to date in the current season, according to official data reported by APK-Inform on 12 January.
Since the opening of the Chinese market to Kazakh flaxseed last season, the country had imported 50,900 tonnes – or 37% of Kazakh flaxseed imports – in the first three months of 2020/21 season (September-November).
During the period, Kazakhstan had exported a total of 137,700 tonnes of flaxseed – excluding supplies to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – down from 150,400 tonnes over the same period of the previous season, APK-Inform said.
However, the supply had been disrupted recently due to a ban on loading all types of cargoes to China (except cargoes in containers) through the border crossing point Dostyk-Alashankou amid tightening quarantine measures imposed by China.
Exports of Kazakh flaxseed to the EU totalled 75,500 tonnes from September-November compared to 113,400 tonnes in the same period of 2019/20. Lower shipments to the EU were due to a declining supply of Kazakh flaxseed this season and competition from China, according to APK-Inform.