ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN — Kazakhstan has revised upward its grain production forecast this year but plans to cut exports, Reuters reported on Sept. 21, citing senior officials at a government meeting.

With the harvest 95% complete, the Kazakhstan government in September increased projected grain output to 16 million tonnes, up from 15.3 million in August, and sees exports at between 6 million and 6.5 million tonnes, down from an earlier forecast of 6.5 million to 7 million tonnes, Reuters said.

Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s leading grain producer, has been hit by a recent drought. Production of the country’s primary grain crop, wheat, is expected to decline from 14.2 million tonnes in 2020-21 to 12.5 million tonnes this year.