Kazakhstan Flax Exports Surge Amid EU Tariff Hike

The Republic of Kazakhstan has seen a sharp increase in flax exports, pushing prices down for this crop in Ukraine and the European Union.

According to the Analytics Committee of the Grain Union of Kazakhstan, in June, flax exports from the country rose by 17.1% compared to May to 83.5 thousand tons, and over the first 10 months of the 2025/26 MY, they grew 2.41 times compared to the corresponding period of the previous season to a record 1.16 million tons.

The increase in exports is attributed to higher import duties on Russian flax in the EU, which jumped from 20% in 2025 to 50% in 2026.

Premiums for yellow (golden) flax are higher due to high demand in the EU food segment, with a price difference of €20-€50 per ton compared to brown flax.