Kazakhstan, Astana, Aug. 17 / Trend S.Suleymanov /
Kazakhstan will increase its grain supplies to the South Caucasus from 800,000 to 2 million tons due to a Russian ban on grain exports from the country, Kazakh National Company Food Contract Corporation Commercial Affairs Managing Director Daulet Uvashev told Trend.
"The major grain producers in Kazakhstan will increase their supplies to the South Caucasus to about 2 million tons in 2010 due to the Russian ban and Ukrainian export restrictions," he said.
Uvashev added that traditionally Kazakh supplied about 800,000 tons to Azerbaijan and Georgia.
"Azerbaijan's grain demand is 1.2-1.3 million tons and Georgia's is about 800,000 tons in 2010," he said. "Kazakhstan can safely absorb these volumes."
Uvashev noted that if Kazakhstan does not take advantage of the situation, the South Caucasus will seek other suppliers.
Grain is mainly exported to the South Caucasus by sea and by rail to Baku, he said.
According to official figures, Kazakhstan's export potential will reach 8 million tons of grain this year. The expected harvest is 14-15 million tons.
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