Aizhan Bizhanova, the First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, met with representatives from the Japanese company Jateco to explore the potential for exporting Kazakhstani flaxseed and other oils to Japan. The meeting highlighted an unexpected surge in demand for Kazakhstani flaxseed oil, which has been well-received by Japanese consumers who appreciate its health benefits.
Kazakhstan's flaxseed oil has quickly become a staple in the Japanese diet, with annual demand reaching approximately 10,000 tons, far exceeding current imports from Kazakhstan. To capitalize on this opportunity, Jateco plans to increase its imports of Kazakhstani flaxseed oil to 3,000 tons annually in the near future and is also considering expanding the supply of safflower and cottonseed oils.
A key topic of discussion during the meeting was logistics, with Bizhanova emphasizing Kazakhstan's commitment to enhancing trade relations with Asian countries. She proposed organizing discussions with the Ministry of Transport and the National Company "KTZ" to optimize transport routes and minimize delays for Japanese partners. These measures aim to facilitate a more efficient and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Notably, Kazakhstan's export of vegetable oils has seen remarkable growth in 2024. From January to August, the country exported 93 tons of oil to Japan, totaling $122,400—an increase of 4.5 times compared to the same period last year. Flaxseed and sunflower oils dominate these exports, solidifying Kazakhstan's position in the global market. The overall trade volume in this sector reached $321.9mn, with exports accounting for $297.5mn.
Japanese interest extends beyond flaxseed oil, with notable demand for safflower and cottonseed oils, estimated at 4,000 and 5,000 tons annually, respectively. Jateco has expressed plans to boost safflower oil imports to 1,000 tons and cottonseed oil to 2,500 tons, paving the way for new opportunities for Kazakhstani producers and further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
In closing, Aizhan Bizhanova expressed her appreciation to Japanese partners for their enthusiasm for Kazakhstani products and stressing the importance of continuing to deepen trade and economic collaboration with Japan.
In August, the mutual trade volume between Kazakhstan and Japan hit $768mn during the first five months of this year. Japan is an important partner for Kazakhstan in East Asia and is among the top 10 largest investors in the country. In the previous year, trade between the two nations increased by 10.5%, totaling $2.1bn. Since 1993, Japanese investments in Kazakhstan have amounted to around $8bn.
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