Kazakhstan’s wheat production is set to fall 5.4% year-on-year to 14 million mt as farmers reduce planted area to the second-lowest level since 2004. A 4.1% reduction in planted area was the primary driver behind lower production, with only plantings in 2015 coming in lower as farmers have shifted their attention to higher-margin crops such as oilseeds and pulses. Despite the decrease in production, consistent demand from neighbours in Central Asia and Iran mean wheat exports are forecast to remain unchanged at 8 MMT. Elevated global prices and domestic feed demand have seen planted barley area increase 1.7% year-on-year, although production is forecast to decrease 0.2% to 3.3 million mt while trade is expected to remain steady at 1.1 million mt.