Kazakhstan: The Impact of a Possible Grain Shortage

Kazakhstan, one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, is considering reducing or even stopping its grain exports. Among its customers, Turkey and Iran have the option of turning to imports from overseas, and Russia — a net exporter itself — can move grain internally to compensate. The other four landlocked Central Asian states, however, face an unpleasant choice between importing grain from very far away at great expense or rationing supplies and hoping to ride out the social consequences.