According to the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, the country's flaxseed exports from September to May 2025/26 amounted to 1.0766 million tons, a record high. In May, exports decreased by 39% to 71.3 thousand tons compared to April. Evgeny Karabanov, a Union analyst, stated that exports to EU countries increased significantly, with Belgium, Poland, and Germany being key destinations. The increase is attributed to the EU's 20% import customs duty on Russian flax in 2025 and 50% from 2026.
Kazakhstan's flaxseed exports to China also increased, with China being the largest buyer, accounting for 40% of total exports.