FOC 2026: Fats and Oils Conference
The 5th Anniversary International Fats and Oils Conference "FOC 2026: Fats and Oils Conference" took place in Astana.
More than 350 delegates from 18 countries gathered to discuss key market trends, systemic challenges, and prospective changes in the development of the agro-industrial complex and international trade.
As Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan, noted in his welcoming speech, in just 4 years the foreign exchange earnings from the export of Kazakhstani oil and fat products grew fourfold — from $240 million to $963 million US dollars. Production reached a record 1.57 million tons, and the industry's share in the export of processed agricultural products amounted to 27%.
"This is the result of a consistent state policy to support domestic producers, develop processing, and attract investment. Along with processing, agriculture is also developing: the sown areas of oilseeds are expanding, the profitability of farms is growing, new jobs are being created, and transport and export infrastructure is developing. Today Kazakhstan already ranks 6th in the world in sunflower oil exports and is the 2nd largest supplier of this product to the Chinese market. In addition, the country is among the leading suppliers of sunflower meal to the European Union and almost completely covers the needs of Central Asian countries," emphasized S. Zhumangarin.
However, the achieved results are only the beginning of a new stage of development. The main task is to transition from the status of a major exporter to one of the global industry leaders. To achieve this, the Export Roadmap for the Development of the Oil and Fat Industry for 2026–2028 is being implemented.
"Our goal is to increase the industry's foreign exchange earnings to over $1.5 billion US dollars per year, strengthen Kazakhstan's position among the largest exporters of sunflower oil, and create the basis for entering the TOP-3 global leaders," the Deputy Prime Minister stated.
To achieve these goals, business and the state will continue working in several key areas:
expansion of sown areas of highly profitable oilseeds and yield growth through the introduction of modern agricultural technologies;
stimulation of investments in deep processing and production of high-value-added products;
development of transport and logistics infrastructure and international trade routes, as delivery volumes are growing dynamically.
