ALMATY, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan has exported 11.1 million tonnes of grain since the start of the current agricultural year last September, up 13 percent from the same period a year earlier, the country's agriculture ministry said Wednesday.

Exports to key markets registered solid growth. Shipments to its dominant export market Uzbekistan rose 13.8 percent to 9.3 million tonnes. Exports to Kyrgyzstan increased 1.6 times to 440,000 tonnes, while deliveries to Afghanistan jumped 51 percent to 1.8 million tonnes. Shipments to Turkmenistan also grew 1.5 times to 183,000 tonnes, the ministry said.

Kazakhstan has set its export forecast for wheat and flour at 13.4 million tonnes in grain equivalent for the current agricultural year. ■