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Agriculture Export Chicken Eggs

Kyrgyzstan Exports Over 8 Million Eggs to Kazakhstan Amid Shifting Trade Policies

Between January and March 2025, Kyrgyzstan exported 8.8 million chicken eggs to neighboring Kazakhstan, according to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry. This marks the second consecutive year that Kyrgyzstan has achieved near-total self-sufficiency in egg production, enabling it to maintain consistent exports. In a move to support domestic poultry and egg producers, the Kyrgyz government has exempted feed and feed additives for the industry from value-added tax (VAT). Earlier this month, Kyrgyz authorities announced a temporary ban on egg imports to further protect domestic producers. As a result, the country currently imports no table eggs, though imports of hatching eggs, essential for poultry reproduction, continue. In the first quarter of 2025, Kyrgyzstan imported 2.26 million hatching eggs from five countries: Turkey, Uzbekistan, Russia, France, and Denmark. Meanwhile, in a parallel development, Kazakhstan introduced a six-month ban on chicken egg imports starting April 9. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture cited the need to protect local poultry farms during a period of seasonally low demand as the reason for the temporary restriction. These shifting trade dynamics highlight the strategic importance of the poultry sector in Central Asia and underscore the balancing act between supporting domestic production and ensuring market stability.

Agro-Industry Breeding Farm Alhusaini Group Investments Kazakhstan Agriculture breeding farm project poultry Poultry Industry

$85 Million Breeding Farm Project to Boost Kazakhstan’s Poultry Industry

Jordan’s Alhusaini Group has announced plans to invest $85 million in the construction of a state-of-the-art breeding poultry farm in Kazakhstan. With a projected production capacity of up to 100 million hatching eggs per year, the facility will significantly enhance the country’s poultry sector. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025 and will be completed in stages through 2029. The project was discussed during an April 16 meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, and representatives of Alhusaini Group, according to a government statement. A Strategic Boost for Agro-Industry The new facility is expected to play a key role in strengthening Kazakhstan’s food security and export potential. Approximately 70% of the farm’s production will be allocated for the domestic market, with the remaining 30% designated for export. Minister Saparov highlighted the strategic importance of the project for Kazakhstan’s agro-industrial development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting its successful implementation. Alhusaini Group, known for its ownership of Al Jazeera Agricultural Company and Al Sidra — both major players in poultry production — will partner with Kazakhstan’s Aitas KZ holding company to bring the project to fruition. Kazakhstan's Poultry Powerhouse Aitas KZ is one of Kazakhstan’s leading poultry producers, supplying around 43% of the domestic market. Its assets include Makinskaya Poultry Farm, the largest in Central Asia, and the Ust-Kamenogorsk Poultry Farm, the oldest in the country, with a combined capacity of 150,000 tons per year. Aitas KZ also operates the Almaty-based Nauryz Agro Breeding Poultry Farm, the largest in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which produces up to 80 million hatching eggs annually for broiler chickens. This new investment is poised to elevate Kazakhstan’s standing in the regional poultry market and promote technological advancement in its agricultural sector.

Agriculture Cannabis Industrial Hemp industrial use hemp cultivation internal affairs Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan to Permit Industrial Hemp Cultivation

Kazakhstan will legalize the cultivation of industrial hemp, with the measure already approved by the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament. The provision is part of a draft law aimed at eliminating unnecessary regulation of internal affairs bodies. Vice Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov confirmed the development during a parliamentary session. According to Adilov, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already issued four licenses for the cultivation of technical cannabis. The new regulation is designed to enable the use of industrial hemp in manufacturing sectors such as paper, textiles, and construction materials. Industrial Use, Not for Intoxication During discussions in the Mazhilis, some deputies raised concerns about whether the cultivation of hemp might attract drug users or traffickers. Addressing these fears, Adilov emphasized the stark chemical differences between industrial and wild cannabis. “Wild-growing marijuana in the Chui Valley contains more than 15% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), while industrial hemp contains just 0.1% to 0.3% THC,” he explained. “As a police officer, I can say this production holds no interest for drug users or traffickers. Industrial hemp cultivation is not prohibited by law.” Adilov noted that one farm in the Kostanay region is already engaged in the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp under one of the existing licenses. Revisiting an Old Idea The concept of using hemp for industrial purposes, particularly in paper production, has been circulating in Kazakhstan for more than a decade. However, past initiatives were not government-led. Roughly ten years ago, the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” proposed utilizing hemp to reduce Kazakhstan’s dependency on imported office paper, which costs the country an estimated $100 million annually. Although the proposal was backed by Dariga Nazarbayeva, then Deputy Prime Minister and the eldest daughter of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, it failed to gain broader government support at the time. Now, with the government itself spearheading the effort, the project is being revived with stronger institutional backing. The entire cultivation and processing cycle of industrial hemp will be monitored by anti-narcotics authorities to ensure regulatory compliance and security.

Food Contract Corporation Wheat export Agriculture

Kazakhstan Expands Wheat Exports to North Africa

Kazakhstan, Central Asia’s leading grain producer, is broadening its export markets to include Africa. The national grain operator, Food Contract Corporation, has reached preliminary agreements to supply 300,000 tons of food wheat to Morocco and other North African countries by the end of the current marketing season, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. More than 200,000 tons of wheat have already been contracted for shipment to African markets. The Corporation’s export strategy emphasizes market diversification, prioritizing the European Union, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Southeast Asia, and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Kazakhstan’s traditional grain buyers include Central Asian states, China, and Turkey. To facilitate broader exports, the country is prepared to transport grain via the Azov, Black, and Baltic Sea ports. In 2024, Kazakhstan harvested 26.7 million tons of grain, its largest yield in 13 years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The country exported 8.1 million tons of grain last year, including between 6.5 and 7.5 million tons of wheat. For the 2025 season, Kazakhstan aims to export approximately 12 million tons of newly harvested grain. Efforts to secure new markets are ongoing, with negotiations focused on increasing agricultural exports to Azerbaijan, China, Iran, North Africa, and EU countries, as well as to Uzbekistan and Georgia, through access points at Black and Baltic Sea ports.

domestic supply support Import Chicken Eggs ban Agriculture Export/Import

Kazakhstan Imposes Temporary Ban on Chicken Egg Imports

Starting April 9, Kazakhstan will impose a six-month ban on the import of fresh chicken eggs, aimed at supporting local poultry farms during a seasonally weak demand period. The measure, signed into effect by Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov, is outlined in Order No. 101 and targets eggs classified under code TN VED 040721. The ban applies to imports from both non-EAEU countries and fellow Eurasian Economic Union member states and covers all transportation modes. However, transit shipments through Kazakhstan and the movement of eggs between EAEU countries via Kazakh territory are exempt. Why the Ban Was Imposed The Ministry of Agriculture said the decision is intended to support local producers during spring and summer, when demand for eggs traditionally falls. With a seasonal influx of fresh produce and a larger share of household-produced goods on the market, egg prices often dip below cost, putting poultry farms under financial strain. Additionally, warmer temperatures shorten product shelf life and make it technologically difficult for producers to scale down operations. This often leads to warehouse overstocking. To counter these issues, the Interdepartmental Commission on Foreign Trade Policy approved the temporary import restrictions. “In order to protect the domestic market and the sustainability of enterprises, the Interdepartmental Commission on Foreign Trade Policy approved the establishment of temporary restrictive measures,” the ministry said. Advance Planning and Strategic Goals Discussions around restricting egg imports began in February 2025 as part of a broader government initiative to support domestic producers and combat gray imports. Officials expect the ban to help stabilize domestic prices, which surged nearly 12% year-on-year as of October 2024 due to seasonal fluctuations. Prices typically fall in summer but rise again in autumn to offset earlier losses. In a bid to strengthen long-term food security, construction of a new egg and mixed fodder production plant will begin in Turkestan region in 2024. Once operational, the facility is expected to produce around 200 million eggs annually. Authorities Confident in Domestic Supply Despite the potential for price hikes, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliev assured the public there will be no shortage of eggs or poultry products. According to the ministry, domestic producers are capable of fully meeting the country’s summer demand. The government sees the temporary import ban as a strategic tool to stabilize the agro-industrial sector, shield local producers from unfair competition, and promote self-sufficiency in food production.

Investments Global Olive Corporation olive oil olive cultivation Agriculture

Kazakhstan Launches $20 Million Olive Cultivation and Oil Production Project

A major agricultural initiative valued at $20 million is underway in Kazakhstan, where the country’s first olive plantations have been established. By 2025, the total cultivated area is expected to reach 100 hectares. Laying the Groundwork for Investment Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, recently met with George Svanidze, President of Global Olive Corporation, to discuss the ongoing implementation of the olive cultivation and olive oil production project. Launched in 2023, the project is a joint effort involving Kazakh companies QVM Technology, Ordabasy Group, and Ervira, in partnership with Georgia’s Olive Georgia. Initial pilot plantations were established in the Zhetysu, Turkestan, and Mangistau regions, where over 6,000 olive seedlings were planted, an effort that achieved a remarkable 99.7% survival rate. From Pilot Plantings to Industrial Production In spring 2024, the project expanded with new seedlings imported from Spain and Turkey. By the end of 2025, the cultivated area is expected to reach 100 hectares, with the first harvest anticipated within five years. Saparov emphasized the strategic value of the initiative, which aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to expand its food processing industry: “Our goal is to increase the share of processed agricultural products to 70%. The development of the olive industry is strategically important for the agro-industrial complex. We are committed to providing comprehensive support for this project,” Saparov said. Target: One Million Trees and Domestic Oil Production George Svanidze outlined ambitious plans to establish a sustainable olive industry in Kazakhstan, including planting up to one million olive trees, constructing a modern olive oil production facility, and setting up a nursery for seedling propagation. “We are ready to bring in international experts, train Kazakhstani agronomists, and share advanced technologies,” said Svanidze. According to preliminary estimates, annual yields could reach 150,000 tons of olives, enabling the production of up to 30,000 tons of olive oil. Kazakh partner QVM Technology confirmed the Ministry of Agriculture’s active support for the project. The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and the preparation of a Road Map outlining the key implementation stages. Exotic Crops on Kazakh Soil Kazakhstan has previously experimented with cultivating non-native crops. In Turkestan region, bananas are grown successfully on a five-hectare plantation, yielding around 1,000 tons. Local authorities are also supporting efforts to expand tropical fruit cultivation, including mangoes and avocados, on a planned 90-hectare site. These initiatives reflect Kazakhstan’s commitment to modernizing its agricultural sector, diversifying crop production, and enhancing both food security and export potential.