DUSHANBE, February 16, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan has considerably reduced grain and flour imports coming from Kazakhstan, the source at the state unitary enterprise, Ghalla (grain products), said.
According to him, the Kazakh grain and flour deliveries have been cut because a large amount of grains and wheat flour was purchased at the end of last year.
“In January 2011, Tajikistan imported 27,900 tons of wheat (9,000 tons fewer than in December 2010) and 27,500 tons of wheat flour (4,000 tons fewer than in December 2010),” the source noted.
According to him, another factor that has led to cuts on grain and flour imports is lack of demand. “The population has stored necessary amount of flour and there is no demand for flour in the domestic market,” the source said, adding Tajikistan now has enough flour and wheat.
In the meantime, grain and flour prices have risen again in Kazakhstan. According to the Kazakh-Zerno news agency, the price of one ton of grade I wheat flour at the Sary-Agash railway station, which is the main point of shipping grains and flour to Tajikistan, has risen from US$443 in early February to US$465.
We will recall that flour prices began to rise in Tajikistan in early February. Current price for a 50-kilogram of Kazakh grade 1 flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars now fluctuates from 135 to 140 somoni, while in the provinces, the 50-kilogram sack of Kazakh grade I flour now costs 145 somoni.
Kazakhstan remains the main supplier of grains and flour to Tajikistan. Every year, Tajikistan imports some 600,000 tons of grains and flour from Kazakhstan.
