In January-October 2020, 2.2 thousand corruption crimes were registered in the country, 2% more than a year earlier.

Two-thirds, or 1.5 thousand crimes, were classified as serious; another 22.2%, or 490, as moderate crimes; 9.5%, or 209, as minor crimes; 1.6%, or 36 cases, as particularly serious.

In the context of regions,...

In Kazakhstan there are more than 1 million people aged 16 to 24 years. In accommodation and food services, employees aged 16-24 make up 16.4% of the total number of employees. This is the highest indicator among all industries. This is evidenced by data from the Bureau of national statistics

Then...

The People’s Party of Kazakhstan has formed its list of 125 candidates for the upcoming Lower House Parliament elections at its 16th extraordinary congress on Nov. 23. It lists 89 men (71.2 percent), 36 women (28.8 percent) and youth under 29 – nine people (7.2 people). The average age of...

Prime Minister Askar Mamin held a conference of the Inter-Agency Commission (IAC) on coronavirus spread prevention, according to the press service of the head of Kazakhstan Government.

It was stated at the meeting that an increase in the incidence of coronavirus is recorded in almost all regions of Kazakhstan. The virus...

Over the last 24 hours Kazakhstan detected 720 new coronavirus-positive cases. 50 cases were registered in Nur-Sultan, 43 in Almaty, 3 in Shymkent, 69 in the the Akmola region, 6 in the Aktobe region, 22 in the Almaty region, 8 in the Atyrau region, 160 in East Kazakhstan, 14 in...

The total loan portfolio of Kazakhstan's banks grew by only 0.8% over the month, by 3.8% since the beginning of the year, and by 7.4% over the year, and amounted to 15.31 trillion tenge by October 2020. We can say that this growth almost coincides with the indicators of inflation.

In...

A syndicated loan is a loan made to a borrower by a syndicate of lenders. It differs from a regular loan only in the number of creditors: with a syndicated loan, there are two or more of them.

In the past, Kazakhstan's banks in syndicated loans acted mainly as borrowers, not...

There is a growing demand for loans among entrepreneurs. This was stated by the Deputy Director of the financial stability Department and research NBK Olzhas Kabanbaev. He presented the results of a survey of banks on lending for the third quarter of 2020. "The net percentage change (PPI) in business...

The Damu entrepreneurship development fund (Damu Foundation) and the KMF microfinance organization signed an agreement to open a credit line for financing micro and small private businesses in the regions, the KMF press service reported.

Funds in the amount of 5 billion tenge are allocated to the microfinance organization in tranches...

It is no coincidence that the banking sector is mentioned among the first when it comes to the benefits of digitalization. Thanks to their information systems (today it will be correct to talk not about systems, but the digital core of banks), financial market players increase business profitability by expanding...

Kazakhstan Deposit guarantee Fund extended the term of payment of guarantee compensation to Delta Bank depositors until may 23, 2021 inclusive. About it reported in a press-service of the KDIF.

Within the specified period, Delta Bank depositors can apply to the agent Bank of Bank CenterCredit JSC and submit an application...

Bank RBK successfully placed bonds, increasing the volume of placement after its launch more than three times in response to high demand from investors. The initial placement of Bank RBK bonds in the amount of 7.6 billion tenge at par at a yield of 13% per annum took place on...

Kazakhstan plans to get two international loans to fight COVID-19. According to Finance Minister Yerulan Zhamaubayev, in August this year the country signed an agreement with the ADB for 908.5 million euros.

"The loan will be used to Finance the budget deficit in 2021. These funds will support the government's response...

S&P confirmed the rating of UK Freedom Finance Insurance at B with a stable outlook. According to the agency, the decision was made against the background of strengthening market positions and sufficient capital.

S&P confirmed the credit rating B and the rating on the national scale kzBB+ of Freedom Finance Insurance....

Currency exchange rates

Reported by KASE.

Risk-oriented currencies including the Australian dollar and the euro rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump accepted the start of a transition to a Biden regime, that may include former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as Treasury secretary.

The New Zealand dollar was among the major gainers, rising as much...

European shares held near eight-month highs on Tuesday as a possible easing of lockdowns in France added to a brighter mood from encouraging developments related to coronavirus vaccines.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was up 0.7% at 0915 GMT, supported by strong gains in the travel sector and oil & gas...

The issues of cooperation in agribusiness were discussed during the major online event Global AgConnect. The event was organized by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (USA) and Valmont Irrigation. The meeting was attended by the representatives of large American companies, such as Valley Irrigation, Tyson Foods, Kusto Group, Global...

The domestic leader in the production of equipment for the oil and gas industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Atyrau Neftemash LLP, which has a century-old history of formation and development, completed another modernization in 2020. The plant produces petrochemical, oil and gas, heat and power, drilling, air-cooling and complex...

Energy Minister Nurlan Nogayev told how the country's gasification is going and how much money is spent on it. At the end of the year, there are only 6 regions in the country, the level of gasification of which is more than 90%. These are Atyrau region 99.6%, Mangistau region...

At a government session chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, issues of gas supply to settlements were considered. Minister of Energy Nurlan Nogayev, governors of the Turkistan region Umirzak Shukeyev, the Zhambyl region Berdibek Saparbayev, the Karaganda region Zhenis Kassymbek,and Nur-Sultan’s mayor Altay Kulginov presented their reports.

In Kazakhstan, as well...

Kazakhstan holds Central Asia’s largest recoverable crude oil reserves. Its extractive sector – which provides more than a third of the state budget – is crucial for the country’s development and improving the lives of its 18 million people. 

Yet since Kazakhstan became the last Soviet Republic to declare independence in...

Oil hit its highest since in March on Tuesday, rising towards $47 a barrel, as a third promising coronavirus vaccine spurred demand recovery hopes and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden received the go-ahead to begin his transition.

AstraZeneca said on Monday its COVID-19 shot was 70% effective in trials and could be...

Production of raw aluminum and its oxides in January–October 2020 amounted to 1.4 million tons, almost the same as a year earlier (plus 0.3%). For comparison, in the same period of 2019, the sector experienced an annual decline in output by 6%.

In General, in January–December 2019, aluminum production amounted to...

Altynalmas JSC has started open-pit mining operations at the Aksu field in the Akmola region. The company plans to produce 5 million tons of ore per year. Processing will be carried out at the factory, which is planned to be built in the second quarter of 2021. This is stated...

According to the akimat of the Akmola region, from September 2018 to September 2020, licenses for prospecting were not issued. It is noted that in the region there are no territories for inclusion in the list of objects of prospecting. Meanwhile, the Department of ecology of the Akmola region said...

Kazakhmys Corporation awarded employees who proved themselves in a special way in the field of safety at work: they offered effective solutions aimed at preventing injury risks, and distinguished themselves with discipline in compliance with industrial safety and labour protection standards (ISLPS). The competition was held for a month, from...

Gold slid to a four-month low on Tuesday, extending a sharp slide from the previous session as optimism over the development of COVID-19 vaccines drove investors to riskier assets.

Spot gold dropped 1.3% to $1,812.81 an ounce by 1218 GMT, having touched its lowest since July 17 at $1,804.70, while U.S....

Copper prices hit an almost 30-month high on Tuesday, with fresh buying triggered by optimism about COVID-19 vaccines, expectations of robust demand in top consumer China and a weaker dollar.

Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange traded up 1.9% at $7,314 a tonne in official rings.

Prices of the metal used...

This year, 14 projects worth almost 100 billion tenge of investment are planned to be launched in Mangistau region. This was stated by the head of the region Serikbai Trunov. According to him, 14 projects are being implemented in the region, 10 of which are with domestic capital, three with...

The infamous glass factory in Kyzylorda is planned to be launched in 2021. This was announced by the head of the region Gulshara Abdykalikova. According to her, in General, 26 projects worth over 554 billion tenge are being implemented in the region within the third five-year plan of industrialisation. According...

In Kazakhstan, it is planned to reduce the time of customs operations. The relevant amendments to the Code "On customs regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan" were approved at the plenary session in Parliament in the second reading. As noted in the conclusion to the bill, its main goals are...

On November 23, a meeting of the Working Group in the field of agriculture and ag-tech took place and completed a series of sectoral working groups within the framework of the Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council.

More than 60 representatives of governments, companies, agricultural associations and academia of two countries discussed issues of...

Export prices for cereals and flour in dollars per ton, including VAT 0% (ex-Elevator) on 19.11.2020

The Ministry of agriculture of Kazakhstan summed up the final results of the harvesting campaign-2020. The total grain harvest this year is higher than last year's level by more than 1 million tons of grain. Thanks to this, Kazakhstan overcame the critically low transition grain balances to last year, which lasted from the very beginning of 2020. The local grain deficit in some regions has caused an increased import of cereals, mainly from Russia and has created some difficulties in the formation of export shipments.

By the beginning of November, there was more grain in Kazakhstan than last year, but the Republic needs even more different types of grain to successfully solve export tasks, raise its own processing and livestock production to a higher level. In November, experts from the USDA raised the forecast of wheat exports for Kazakhstan by 0.2 million tons. But, it still turned out to be more modest in relation to last year. Low productivity of crop production does not allow the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan to make a qualitative leap forward.

Reported by Alimbek Gabitov for Grain Kazakhstan.

Price dynamics in Kazakhstan on the basis of EXW Akmola region from 2 to 19 November 2020

Price dynamics in Kazakhstan based on EXW Akmola region from the end of December 2019 to November 19 2020

Tenge/dollar exchange rate 427.24

In October, the dynamics of prices for wheat, barley and flour were contradictory. In the first two decades of the month, the upper classes of wheat declined slightly, while barley increased. Prices for other wheat items and barley remained stable. The price denomination for most classes of wheat, flour and barley began to rise in the third decade of October. An important role in this was played not only by market reasons, but also by the currency factor. The tenge sank significantly against the dollar. After the us equivalent, prices in tenge went up. Some positions rose in the price of the dollar, some declined. The tenge exchange rate is strongly linked to the fluctuations of the Russian rouble, as the economy of this country is the largest trading partner of Kazakhstan.  And over the last week of October, the rouble exchange rate significantly decreased against the dollar and pulled the tenge. As mentioned earlier, demand and oil prices declined and lowered the Russian currency, as they did in March.

In November, the price of high-grade wheat increased, but class 4 and 5 wheats did not change. Barley rose the most. In the flour group, the highest and first grade of this product rose. Second-grade flour remained at the same level. In November, the currency trend changed, the exchange rate of tenge against the dollar turned to increase. All types of grain and flour increased in the us equivalent.

From November 2 to 19, wheat with a high protein content and gluten level of 27-30% increased from 93,000 tenge per ton ($213.4) to 93,500 tenge per ton ($218.8), by 500 tenge per ton or 0.5%, and wheat of class 3 23% from 88,300 tenge per ton ($202.6) to 89,300 tenge per ton ($209.0), by 1,000 tenge per ton or 1.1%. Food grade 4 wheat remained at the same level, 80,700 tenge per ton ($188.9), feed grade 5 wheat remained in place-63,100 tenge per ton ($147.7). Barley rose 56,800 tenge per ton ($130.3) to 59,300 tenge per ton ($138.8), by 2,500 tenge per ton or 4.4%.

In the flour segment, higher-quality varieties have increased in price. Premium flour rose from 145,900 tenge per ton ($334.8) to 147,900 tenge per ton ($346.2), by 2,000 tenge per ton or 1.4%. First-grade flour increased from 135,900 tenge per ton ($311.8) to 137,400 tenge per ton ($321.6) or 1.1%, while second-grade flour did not change values 109,200 tenge per ton ($255.6).

In comparison with December last year, by November 2, all wheat has increased to varying degrees in the range of 12-24. 7%. The lowest growth proportions were found in high-protein wheat 27-30%. Barley rose by ten percent last year. In the group of flour, its first grade remained the leader of growth, in high-grade flour the proportion of increase is lower, the second grade of flour has risen even less significantly.

By mid-November, the tenge had recovered against the dollar. From October 20 to November 2, the tenge decreased from 428.44 to 435.79 tenge per dollar, or by 1.7%, and in the first two decades of November it increased against the us currency to 427.24 tenge per dollar. From October 6 to 20, the exchange rate of tenge to the dollar increased from 430.8 to 428.44 tenge per dollar, or by 0.5%. Over the last decade of August, the tenge fell against the dollar. By August 20, its exchange rate was 418.52 tenge per dollar, and on September 1 it fell to 420.24 tenge per dollar, or 0.41%. From September 1 to 24, the exchange rate of tenge to the dollar decreased from 420.24 tenge per dollar to 425.43 tenge per dollar, or by 1.2%.

In the first half of July, the tenge decreased against the dollar from 404.7 tenge per dollar on June 30 to 412.95 tenge per dollar on July 16, or by 2%. Further, in the second part of July, the tenge fell to the dollar to 421.78 tenge per dollar on August 1 and decreased by another 2.1%.  And only in August, the tenge began to rise against the dollar. The tenge fell most strongly against the dollar in March against the background of the oil crisis, and then the pandemic, but then recovered. As of December 30, 2019, the dollar-tenge exchange rate was 382.92 tenge per dollar, and on April 24 it increased to 432.13 tenge per dollar. Then the tenge fell by 12.9%.

From October 20 to November 2, wheat with a high protein content, with a gluten level of 27-30% increased from 90,000 ($210.8) to 93,000 tenge per ton ($213.4), by 3,000 tenge per ton or 3.3%, and wheat of class 3 23% from 87,300 ($203.8) to 88,300 tenge per ton ($202.6), by 1,000 tenge per ton or 1.1%. Food grade 4 wheat increased from 78700 ($183.7) to 80700 tenge per ton ($185.2), by 2000 tenge per ton or 2.5%, feed grade 5 wheat remained in place – 63100 tenge per ton, in dollars fell from $147.3 to $144.8. Barley rose from 53800 ($125.6) to 56800 tenge per ton ($130.3), by 3000 tenge per ton or 5.6%.

In the flour group, higher-quality varieties have increased in price. Premium flour rose from 143900 ($335.9) to 145900 tenge per ton ($334.8), by 2000 tenge per ton or 1.4%. First-grade flour increased from 134,900 ($314,9) to 135,900 tenge per ton ($311,8), while second-grade flour did not change values, 109,200 tenge per ton, in dollars it decreased from $254,9 to $250.6.

Reported by Alimbek Gabitov for Grain Kazakhstan.

Grain reserves in Kazakhstan as of November 1, 2020

In October, grain continued to arrive in Kazakhstan's storage facilities, but in the same high relative dynamics as in September. But, nevertheless, this month we managed to get more than 1 million tons of grain in the bunker weight. According to the final report of the Ministry of agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 12, according to operational information on the grain harvest of regional departments of agriculture, the gross grain harvest was completed by one hundred percent in all grain-growing regions of the Republic. The harvest exceeded the level of last year 2019 by 5.6%. In absolute volume, this amounted to 1112 thousand tons from 19727.4 thousand tons in 2019 to 20839.4 thousand. tons in 2020. This is due to both an increase in grain acreage this year from 15274.3 to 15789.2 thousand hectares, and an increase in the average yield in the Republic from 12.9 to 13.2 centners per hectare. In the context of individual regions, the situation with the dynamics of grain threshing and its yield is different. Somewhere it is positive, and somewhere it has gone negative.

By the end of autumn, Kazakhstan managed to overcome the lag in the grain balance compared to last year. Grain stocks this year are higher on November 1 than last year, mainly due to a higher harvest. As of November 1, 2019, Kazakhstan accounted for 15,600,633 tons of grain, down from 9,10068 tons this year.

By the beginning of 2020, as of January 1, according to the statistics Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 11773356 tons of grain were recorded in Kazakhstan, the volume decreased by 1398783 tons or 10.6% in December. By February 1, grain in the Republic was 10255843 tons and its volume decreased by 1517513 tons or 12.9%.

As of March 1, the amount of grain in Kazakhstan decreased to 9168971 tons, by 1086872 tons or by 10.6%. As of April 1, Kazakhstan accounted for 7777018 tons of grain with a decrease in March by 1391953 tons or 15.2%. by may 1, the volume of available grain decreased to 6943067 tons, by 833951 tons or 10.7%. As of June 1, grain volumes in Kazakhstan decreased to 4505095, by 2437972 tons.

By the beginning of the 2020-21 season, by July 1, 3353441 tons of grain remained in the Republic and stocks decreased by 1151654 or 25.6%. During July to August 1, grain volumes decreased by 396567 tons to 2956874 tons or 11.8%, and in August grain reserves increased by 3054526 tons to 6011400 tons or 2.033 times. As of October 1, statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan took into account 15451724 tons of grain with an increase of 9440324 tons or 2.57 times. In October, by November 1, grain volumes increased by another 1058977 tons to 16510701 tons, or 6.9%.

The amount of food grain for October to November 1 increased by 515958 tons from 12204442 tons on October 1 to 12720400 tons on November 1, by 4.2%.  Seed grain stock increased by 370719 tons from 961681 to 1332400 tons, by 38.5%. The volume of feed grain in October increased by 172299 tons from 2285601 to 2457900 tons, by 7.5%.

In the context of individual regions, the situation with the regional grain balance turned out to be contradictory. In those areas where the harvest of grain crops was completed earlier than in other regions, grain began to decrease for food, feed and export purposes. In other areas, running costs were offset by new crop grain. In October, the amount of grain increased to different degrees in nine regions, while grain volumes decreased in seven Republican objects. Most of the grain was added in the regions of the grain belt, but not in all of them. In the North Kazakhstan region, grain costs exceeded the volume of new arrivals in October, and the amount of grain decreased here. In Akmola and Kostanay regions, the level of grain reserves increased almost equally.

In October, in the grain regions of the Republic, changes in the amount of grain minus losses for the needs of the domestic market and exports were ambiguous, in the direction of growth and decline. In Akmola region, grain reserves increased by 468553 tons 4671400 tons on October 1 to 5139953 tons on November 1, or by 10%. In North Kazakhstan region, grain volumes decreased by 57957 tons from 3814956 to 3756999 tons or 1.5%, in Kostanay region they increased by 493963 tons from 2936700 to 3430663 tons or 16.8%.  In the Akmola region, the share of Republican grain increased to 31.1%, in the Kostanay region to 20.8%, and in the North Kazakhstan region it decreased to 22.8%. In all three regions, grain volumes increased by 904559 tons from 11423056 to 12327615 tons, or by 8%. The share of grain in these regions increased to 74.7%.

Grain reserves in October increased by more than 50 thousand tons in Pavlodar region by 280296 tons from 513445 to 793741 tons, in Kyzylorda region by 96169 tons from 315864 to 412033 tons, in Karaganda region by 89681 tons from 784370 to 874051 tons, in East Kazakhstan region by 59277 tons from 642256 to 701533 tons.

Grain volumes decreased by 60 or more thousand tons in the Aktobe region by 120024 tons from 515609 to 395585 tons, in the Zhambyl region by 86189 tons from 251612 to 165423 tons, in the Turkestan region by 60737 tons from 118961 to 58224 tons.

Reported by Alimbek Gabitov for Grain Kazakhstan.

On November 13, JSC NC Food Corporation announced some changes in quality indicators under forward purchase agreements for agricultural products. Due to requests from suppliers who participated in the forward purchase program for agricultural products in 2020, the in-kind indicator for class 2 barley was reduced to 580 g/l. We...

On November 12, the Ministry of agriculture of Kazakhstan published the final data on the harvesting campaign-2020. All the results have been summed up, and the harvesting of grain crops has been completed one hundred percent in all grain growing regions of the Republic.  15,789,2 thousand hectares were harvested and...

In November, there was no wheat trade for a long time in the agricultural products trading section of the ETS in the double anonymous auction mode. Although applications for its purchase were in the section from 3 to 6 November. Buyers wanted to buy 1000 tons of wheat at the...

Today, farmers of the Pavlodar region live in anticipation of the new program for the development of the country's agro-industrial complex announced by the Government. That is, they are waiting for the next reforms, but at the same time they continue to do their everyday business.

Everyone has heard that the...

According to the National Bank, as of October 1, 2020, banks issued loans to this industry for 286.9 billion tenge. While on the same date in 2015 569.6 billion tenge. Thus, over five years, lending to agriculture decreased by 282.6 billion tenge, or 49.6%.

In the national currency, loans were issued...

Investors from Turkey plan to build a $17 million lentil processing plant in Kazakhstan, with reference to Kazakh Invest. According to the information, Armada Foods (Turkey) can implement a project in Northern Kazakhstan on the territory of the Qyzyzlja FEZ. It is noted that this will be a plant with...

In Kazakhstan, it is proposed to abolish licencing of cotton processing organizations’ activities. The relevant legislative amendments were approved in the first reading at the plenary session in Parliament. Deputy Saken Kanybekov noted that the bill is aimed at eliminating administrative barriers and improving the investment climate in the cotton...

Chicago corn and soybeans fell on Tuesday, with chart resistance levels prompting selling after the previous day's highs linked to buoyant U.S. exports and weather risks for South American crops. Wheat tracked corn and soy lower. Corn led the losses, with the most active futures on the Chicago Board of...

Under the pressure of external negative factors and uncertainty on the world markets, which negatively affect the quotes of Kazakhstan issuers, Kcell and Kaz Minerals remain companies with a clear growing trend. At the same time, the bull trend in Kcell quotes, which has been going on since June 2018...

The Ministry of labour and social protection of the population said that the Telegram bot i42500enbekkz_Bot, which offers citizens to send their IIN and mobile phone number to get information about possible social payments, is a fake.

"The Ministry of labour has not launched such Telegram bots, and employees do not...

Real estate experts have made predictions about what the housing market will look like this year. According to the President of the real estate Federation of Kazakhstan Yermek Musrepov, prices for primary housing of I-III categories (elite, business, comfort) will increase next year. The cost of housing category IV (economy,...

IT company Yandex topped the rating of the 50 best employers in Russia according to the Forbes magazine, according to the rating published by the magazine on Tuesday.

The rating includes companies that have received the maximum scores on the following metrics: salary, working conditions, social package, in-house training, job creation,...

President Vladimir Putin signed a law raising the personal income tax rate from 13% to 15% for incomes exceeding 5 million rouble ($65,866) per year. The document was published on the official portal of legal information on Monday.

The law was drafted by the order of the President to create an...

The revenues of the business travel industry in Russia due to the situation with the coronavirus decreased by 80% compared to 2019, Head of the Department of State Tourism Projects and Tourism Safety of the Federal Agency for Tourism Elena Lysenkova said on Monday,

"Before the end of this year and,...

The Russian rouble firmed on Tuesday, buoyed by local month-end taxes that prompt export-focused companies convert foreign currency to meet local liabilities as well as by global optimism related to COVID-19 vaccine hopes.

At 0744 GMT, the rouble was 0.4pc stronger against the dollar at 75.86, heading towards 75.5225, its November...

China stocks ended lower on Tuesday, as investors locked in profit following a recent rally, while the market showed scant reaction to news that U.S. President-elect Joe Biden was given the go-ahead to begin his White House transition.

Analysts said a Biden presidency, which could mean more negotiation room for Washington...

The last nine impoverished counties in China’s southwestern province of Guizhou were removed from the country's poverty list on Monday. The nation has thus ended absolute poverty one month before its self-imposed deadline.

According to CGTN, since last week authorities in the remaining provinces and autonomous regions with poverty-stricken counties successively...

China will step up efforts to expand the free trade area network across the world to enlarge its "circle of friends", according to China's Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.

After signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), China will see the China-Cambodia free trade agreement take effect at the earliest and accelerate...

Mongolia's central bank has downgraded its economic forecast for the country in 2020 from a 2 percent-to-4-percent contraction to a 5.4-percent one over the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior bank official said Monday.

"Both internal and external uncertainties to the economy are increasing after our country recorded domestically transmitted cases of COVID-19....

Date: November 25, 2020; Source: Bloomberg.com

Date: November 25, 2020; Source: the National Bank of Kazakhstan