Kazakhstan ships rapeseed oil to Iran as trade via Caspian growsKazakhstan has shipped two vessels carrying rapeseed oil to Iran since the beginning of April, the National Association of Oilseed Processors said Thursday.The first shipment of 5,000  tonnes departed April 4, with loading taking about two and half days, according to the statement. The buyer was the major Iranian company Kourosh Food Industry, and the seller was a leading Kazakh oil plant that is a member of the association.Loading of a second vessel carrying 5,000 tonnes of sunflower oil  was completed May 13.Yadykar Ibragimov, the association’s chairman, said Iran’s market offers significant potential for Kazakh fat-and-oil product exports. He noted that Iran imports about 3.5 million tonnes of vegetable oils and meal annually, with 1.5 tonnes of that being vegetable oils alone."Our countries share a Caspian Sea border and a preferential customs regime under the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran," Ibragimov said. Over the past three years, he said, Kazakh oil plants have exported more than 100,000 tonnes of fat-and-oil products to Iran, 94% of which was meal. "Launching vegetable oil transshipment through the port of Aktau will significantly increase supply volumes."The association estimates that Aktau port could handle three to four vessels per month, equivalent to 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes of vegetable oil annually. In the longer term, annual exports of vegetable oils and meal to Iran could exceed 500,000 tonnes.“Launching this new supply channel will help diversify export markets, reduce pressure on major logistics routes, and move the industry closer to its goal of exceeding $1 billion in annual foreign currency revenue under the 2026–2028 roadmap,” the association said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX