Russian grain shipments to Kazakhstan double in early 2026

Russian rail shipments of grain to Kazakhstan doubled in the first seven months of 2026, totaling 2.7 million tons from January to July. This surge follows a decline in 2024–2025 caused by import restrictions and high domestic harvests in Kazakhstan. Grain led growth across all Russian Railways (RZD) export categories for the region. Total cargo traffic through Kazakh borders rose 13.8% to 19.9 million tons. Other significant flows included petroleum products (4.4 million tons, up 1.1%) and ferrous metals (3.6 million tons, up 9.7%). The shift toward rail is further accelerated by new regulatory barriers. On July 27, 2026, Kazakhstan implemented a six-month total ban on wheat imports via road transport, effectively limiting wheat entries to rail transport.