US and international sanctions against Iran may end Kazakh grain exports to Iran, which resulted in the price of grain in Iran increasing by 20%, KazakhZerno reports.
Barley exports have stopped completely. The sanctions do not ban grain exports themselves. But many banks refuse to work with clients having business in Iran, fearing to be blacklisted by the US Treasury.
The US is capable of monitoring practically any payment in the world through its banks. Discovering forbidden transactions takes only a few seconds. Most world banks obey US rules.
The situation may cause chaos in Iran and losses to Kazakh grain dealers and the state budget.
Kazakhstan harvested a record 30 million tons of grain and needs to export 15 million tons. Iran purchases 90% of Kazakh barley and 30% of grain.
According to the Ak Biday Terminal, 100% of Kazakhstan's grain in October and November was sent to Iran. The terminal may end up without work unless the situation is resolved.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) said that Iran produced about 20 million tons of grain in 2011, exceeding the volumes in 2010 by 6.5 million tons.
KazakhZerno reported earlier that construction of the Uzen-Gorgan Railway will allow Kazakhstan to increase its transit and export potential to 5 million tons by 2012 to Iran and through Iran to Afghanistan and the ports of the Gulf.
