ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 31. The Japanese company Jateko intends to increase its import of Kazakh flaxseed oil to 3,000 tons per year and is also considering expanding supplies of safflower and cottonseed oils, Trend reports.
This was stated by the company’s director, Anton Kim, during a meeting with the First Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Aizhan Bizhanova, focused on discussing the prospects for exporting Kazakh flaxseed and other oils to the Land of the Rising Sun. The demand for Kazakh flaxseed oil in Japan has significantly exceeded expectations—Japanese consumers highly value the quality of this product, which, according to Jateko's director Anton Kim, is particularly popular due to its health benefits.
Today, Kazakh flaxseed oil has already gained the trust of Japanese consumers and has become an integral part of their daily diet. Japan's annual demand for flaxseed oil reaches about 10,000 tons, significantly surpassing current supplies from Kazakhstan. To meet the growing demand, Jateko plans to increase its import of Kazakh flaxseed oil to 3,000 tons per year and is also considering expanding supplies of safflower and cottonseed oils.
It is worth noting that in the first nine months of 2024, Kazakhstan showed significant growth in the export of vegetable oils. From January to August, 93 tons of oil worth $122,400 were exported to Japan, which is 4.5 times higher than the figures for the same period last year. Flaxseed and sunflower oils make up the bulk of the exports, securing Kazakhstan's strong position in the global market.
Overall, the total trade volume in this sector reached $321.9 million, with $297.5 million accounted for by exports.
Safflower and cottonseed oils also attract interest in the Japanese market, with annual demand for these oils being 4,000 and 5,000 tons, respectively. Jateko announced its intention to increase safflower oil supplies to 1,000 tons and cottonseed oil to 2,500 tons, which could open new opportunities for Kazakh producers and strengthen cooperation between the countries.
Aizhan Bizhanova expressed gratitude to Japanese partners for their interest in Kazakh goods and emphasized the importance of further deepening trade and economic.