Kazakhstan – A Strategic Gateway for Expanding Vietnam’s Agricultural Exports

Kazakhstan is emerging as an attractive destination for Vietnamese agricultural products, particularly key exports such as coffee, tea, rice, and tropical fruits. As Vietnam and Kazakhstan enter a “golden phase” of diplomatic relations, Vietnamese exporters are facing a tremendous opportunity to tap into the promising Central Asian market.

According to Mr. Kanat Tumysh, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Kazakhstani consumers are showing growing demand for Vietnamese agricultural products thanks to their superior quality and unique flavors. Products like ST25 rice, roasted coffee, green tea, and tropical fruits such as mango and dragon fruit are highly regarded.

Strong Bilateral Ties Accelerate Trade

The year 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Kazakhstan. Over three decades, the two nations have steadily expanded cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, transportation, and tourism.

Notably, the visa waiver policy between the two countries, effective from 2024, has significantly boosted business travel, trade fair participation, and bilateral trade negotiations. This development lays the groundwork for strengthening trade volumes, which already reached nearly $1 billion in 2024.

Ambassador Tumysh emphasized that this is only the beginning. The two countries aim to raise bilateral trade to between $2 billion and $5 billion by fully unlocking untapped potential.

Strong Demand in Kazakhstan for Vietnamese Agricultural Goods

Vietnamese Coffee and Tea: Distinct Flavor, High Export Value

Coffee and tea consumption is deeply ingrained in Kazakhstani culture, especially among urban youth and the middle class. Vietnam, one of the world’s top coffee exporters, is well-positioned to meet this demand as the quality of its robusta and arabica beans continues to improve.

Beyond raw beans, there’s increasing interest in instant coffee and ready-to-drink packaged products that align with fast-paced consumer habits. This opens doors for Vietnamese coffee brands to invest in packaging design, brand marketing, and distribution partnerships in Central Asia.

Vietnamese green tea and herbal teas are also gaining traction, especially when attractively packaged and certified organic or food-safe.

Tropical Fruits: Dragon Fruit, Mango, and Pineapple in the Spotlight

Kazakhstan’s cold temperate climate means a real and growing demand for imported fresh fruit. Red-fleshed dragon fruit, mangoes, pineapples, and frozen durian are poised to become Vietnamese “specialties” capturing Kazakhstani palates.

ST25 Rice: The “World’s Best Rice” Takes the Stage

Vietnamese rice—especially the globally acclaimed ST25 fragrant rice—is winning favor for its natural aroma, soft texture, and versatility. These characteristics make it ideal for the premium rice segment in Kazakhstan, including high-end consumers and luxury restaurants.

Logistics and Transportation: The Lever for Central Asia Exports

One of the most critical enablers of Vietnamese exports to Kazakhstan is the improvement of transcontinental logistics and transportation.

Caspian East–West Railway Corridor

Ambassador Tumysh highlighted the transcontinental logistics corridor via the Black Sea–South Caucasus–Central Asia (Caspian route), which can deliver goods from Vietnam to Kazakhstan and Europe in just around two weeks. This significantly reduces delivery time and cost compared to traditional sea freight.

Moreover, the railway connects Western China with the EU, positioning Vietnam as a major transit hub for ASEAN exports into Eurasia.

Air Routes and Tourism Propel Trade Growth

In addition to land and rail routes, Vietnam and Kazakhstan are expanding direct flight options between popular tourist cities such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and the capitals Astana and Almaty.

These air routes not only promote tourism but also facilitate air cargo—especially for fresh fruit, flowers, and high-value perishable goods.

Key Conditions for Vietnamese Enterprises to Succeed in Kazakhstan

To realize export opportunities, Vietnamese companies should keep in mind several important factors:

1. Strengthen Quality and Traceability

Kazakhstani consumers are increasingly focused on food safety, certifications, plant quarantine records, and organic labels. Exporters must standardize production processes to meet international quality benchmarks.

2. Optimize Packaging, Labeling, and Communications

Influenced heavily by European consumer culture, the Kazakhstani market responds well to premium packaging and labeling in Russian or English. Effective marketing via social media platforms like Instagram and Telegram is also vital.

3. Leverage the EAEU Free Trade Agreement

Vietnam’s free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) offers substantial tariff reductions on many agricultural products. Vietnamese firms should take advantage of this to lower prices and enhance competitiveness.

EximGPT – The Ultimate Assistant for Vietnamese Exporters Expanding to Kazakhstan

As businesses explore new opportunities in Kazakhstan, having a smart tool to analyze markets, find partners, and streamline exports is more critical than ever. That’s where EximGPT—an AI-powered platform built for export-import businesses—comes in.

EximGPT features include:

• Targeted B2B customer search by country and industry
• Real-time market analysis
• Automated multilingual sales emails
• Suggested optimal payment terms, transport options, and FOB/CIF pricing
• International contract drafting support

EximGPT helps Vietnamese companies cut down market entry time, reduce customer acquisition costs, and boost export performance.

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