Agricultural Import - The Times Of Central Asia

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Agriculture

Kazakhstan Reclaims Role as Kyrgyzstan’s Main Wheat Supplier

Bishkek has sharply increased wheat imports from Kazakhstan, reversing a three-year reliance on Russian supplies. According to the National Statistics Committee, Kyrgyzstan imported 132,000 tons of wheat from Kazakhstan during the first seven months of 2025, an eightfold increase from previous years, when Kazakh wheat had nearly vanished from the local market. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that 90% of Kyrgyzstan’s wheat crop had been harvested by the end of August, yielding 550,000 tons of grain. However, with national consumption exceeding 1.1 million tons of flour annually, domestic production remains insufficient. In 2022, Kyrgyz importers pivoted toward Russian suppliers, citing lower costs. Imports from Kazakhstan fell from 82,500 tons to just 3,500 tons, while purchases from Russia soared to nearly 240,000 tons. By 2025, the trend had reversed. Kazakhstan now accounts for 72.5% of Kyrgyz wheat imports. In monetary terms, imports surged even more dramatically, rising 8.8 times. Between January and August, Kyrgyzstan spent $27.2 million on Kazakh wheat at an average price of $206 per ton. The rest came from Russian suppliers. The shift has been driven largely by pricing. Russian wheat, which cost just over $160 per ton in 2023, rose to $203 in 2024 and is now priced around $220 per ton. In contrast, Kazakhstan’s record 2024 harvest, 26.5 million tons overall, including 18 million tons of wheat, enabled it to offer more competitive rates, despite traditionally being more expensive than Russian grain. Sources in the Kyrgyz Association of Millers told TCA that the strengthening of the ruble, recovering from years of sanctions-induced weakness, has pushed Russian wheat prices higher. As the ruble appreciates, Russian grain becomes less affordable for importers. The resurgence of Kazakh wheat underscores Kyrgyzstan’s ongoing reliance on imports to meet domestic food demand. While the national harvest is nearing completion, local output still covers only about half of annual consumption. For Bishkek, the return to Kazakh suppliers is not merely economic, it’s also a matter of food security, amid rising global market volatility and Russia’s continued exposure to external shocks.

Agricultural Import

Kazakhstan to Ban Chicken Egg Imports from April

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has drafted an order to ban the import of fresh chicken eggs for six months, beginning in April. The proposal, backed by the government’s interdepartmental commission, is expected to remain in effect through the end of September. The ban will apply to all imports of fresh eggs, regardless of transport mode, from both countries outside of and member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). However, it will not affect the transit of eggs through Kazakhstan, including shipments moving from one EAEU country to another, such as from Russia to Kyrgyzstan. The initiative was not proposed by the authorities but by the Association of Egg Producers. “The Association appealed to the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture to consider a ban on egg imports from April to September,” said Kairat Maishev, head of the association. “A similar restriction was in place in 2024, from May to October. The goal is to curb illegal imports, prevent the entry of low-quality eggs, and support the development of the domestic industry.” Maishev stressed that the ban does not target legitimate importers but aims to ensure that imported eggs are properly documented and taxed. He also noted concerns about substandard products entering the market during the summer months. “In summer, the market often receives imports that do not meet shelf life and quality standards,” he stated. “It’s also difficult for authorities to regulate pricing for these products.” Kazakhstan currently has 34 poultry farms producing approximately five billion eggs annually, enough to meet domestic demand, according to the association. “We are confident that local producers can fully supply the population with quality products,” Maishev added. Official data shows that in 2024, Kazakhstan imported 87.4 million eggs and exported 43.2 million. Domestic production covered 99% of the national demand, with most imports originating from other EAEU countries. Government officials argue that the temporary ban will help strengthen the domestic egg industry and promote transparent pricing in the local market. In a related development, Kazakhstan suspended poultry imports in January from the U.S. states of Delaware and South Carolina, as well as Germany’s Baden-Württemberg region, due to outbreaks of avian influenza.

Agriculture

Uzbekistan Aims for Self-Sufficiency in Potato Production by 2027

Uzbekistan plans to fully meet its domestic potato demand through local production by 2027. Although potatoes are among the most consumed food products in the country, a portion of the supply still comes from imports, despite being cultivated on 290,000 hectares of land. Government Initiative to Boost Production Current potato varieties and yields are falling short of expectations, prompting the government to take action. The Potato Research Institute has been tasked with developing high-yield varieties adapted to Uzbekistan’s climate. The institute will produce three million tubers annually using the in-vitro method, a technique where plant samples from the upper shoot are cultivated under artificial conditions in test tubes or glass containers. To support these efforts, the government will allocate 400 billion UZS (USD 30.85 million) from the Agricultural Fund this year for potato farming development. Additionally, imported seed potatoes will be exempt from customs duties for the next three years. Authorities have also been instructed to provide farmers with potato cultivation and processing equipment, offering affordable leasing options. Impact of Regional Potato Supply Disruptions The announcement comes amid rising potato prices in Central Asia. Recently, Kazakhstan suspended potato exports to non-EEU countries, including Uzbekistan, for six months due to increasing domestic prices. This restriction has already caused difficulties for Uzbek importers. Additionally, a shipment of 43 wagons of potatoes from Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar region was stopped at the Uzbek border a few days ago for a phytosanitary inspection. The delay left the potatoes in storage for over 10 days, causing them to freeze and spoil. “Look, it’s rotten. Water is leaking, everything is ruined. First, it froze, then it melted - now it’s useless. There were 68 tons in one wagon,” said businessman Azamat Serikbayev. The Kazakh entrepreneurs, who had sold the shipment before the export ban took effect, expressed frustration, arguing that all necessary documents had been issued in mid-January. They claim the cargo was unjustly delayed and is now unsuitable even for animal feed. Representatives of five affected companies say they intend to sue officials over their losses.

Agricultural Import

Kazakhstan Restricts Poultry Imports from U.S. and Germany Due to Avian Flu

Kazakhstan has temporarily suspended the import of poultry products from Delaware and South Carolina in the United States, as well as from the German state of Baden-Württemberg, due to outbreaks of avian flu in these regions. The decision was announced by Kazakhstan's authorities and is based on data from the World Organization for Animal Health. The ban covers a broad range of items, including live poultry, hatching eggs, down and feathers, poultry meat, and any poultry products that have not been heat-treated at a minimum temperature of 70°C. Additionally, the restrictions apply to feed and feed additives (excluding those derived from plants or produced through chemical or microbiological synthesis), hunting trophies from game birds that have not undergone taxidermy treatment, and used equipment for poultry farming, slaughter, and processing. The measures concerning Baden-Württemberg took effect on January 20. These steps follow earlier restrictions imposed on January 14, when Kazakhstan banned livestock imports from Germany due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Brandenburg region. Kazakhstan’s veterinary authorities continue to monitor the global epizootic situation closely in order to respond swiftly to any threats posed by the spread of dangerous animal diseases.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Bans Apple Imports to Support Domestic Producers

The government of Kazakhstan has temporarily banned the import of apples into the country by motor transport until the end of the year. The decision to introduce the ban was made and announced late in August, but the ban took effect on October 8. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the ban will last during harvest to support domestic apple production. The move will allow domestic gardeners to sell apples at reasonable prices. During the off-season, apple imports will not be restricted. The government of Kazakhstan has taken support measures in the form of subsidies and preferential loans to develop domestic apple production. As a result, over the past five years, the domestic supply of apples has increased from 62.9% in 2019 to 80% in 2023. At the same time, local farmers are experiencing dumping from foreign producers. High competition with imported products reduces the profitability of domestic producers. With the parallel import of apples during harvest, Kazakhstanis need help selling their products. From January to July 2024, Kazakhstan imported about 107,000 tons of apples, 58% more than in the same period in 2023, from Poland, Iran, Uzbekistan, and China. During that period, apple imports from China increased 18-fold and from Iran — sevenfold. The ban does not apply to imports from fellow members of the Eurasian Economic Union—Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia—or to the international transit of apples through Kazakhstan's territory. Kazakhstan is the birthplace of apples — particularly the famous aport apples, which grow in the Almaty region. Translated from Kazakh, Almaty means “place of abundance of apples.”

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Bans Apple Imports as Big Harvest Expected This Year

On August 27, the government of Kazakhstan imposed a temporary ban on importing apples into Kazakhstan by motor transport until the end of the year. The ban does not apply to imports from fellow members of the Eurasian Economic Union -- Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture explained that this year's total apple harvest is projected to be 300,000 tons. This higher than average volume was achieved thanks to government support measures provided in previous years to cultivate apple orchards. In 2024, new apple orchards will have reached full fruiting capacities, and yields will increase by 18%, which will fully meet the needs of the domestic market. Kazakhstan is the birthplace of apples — particularly the famous aport apples, which grow in the Almaty region. Translated from Kazakh, Almaty means “place of abundance of apples.” Aport apples are distinguished by their large size, distinct smell, and succulent nature. One of the prominent landmarks in Almaty, the first sight to greet visitors to the Kok-Tobe Mountain, which looms over the city, is a granite statue of an apple with water gushing from its core. In 1970, there were 3.8 million aport trees in Kazakhstan, but by 1984, only 1.4 million remained. In 2012, scientific research began on the revival and rejuvenation of the variety, including establishing an experimental garden of aport grafted onto Sievers apple trees. In 2023, Kazakh scholars harvested the first fruits weighing 400–500g.