Al Khaleej Sugar, one of the world’s leading sugar producers, intends to build a sugar factory near the city of Konaev, in Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Almaty Region Akim Marat Sultangaziev and the company’s managing director, Sheikh Jamal Al Gurair.
Key topics on the agenda included the selection of a suitable land plot, the organization of sugar beet cultivation, access to water for raw material production, and power supply infrastructure for the future facility. A site near Konaev, just 56 kilometers from Almaty, is currently considered the most promising due to its logistical advantages.
“We want to create a completely self-sufficient enterprise using renewable energy sources. This will minimize the impact on the environment,” said Sheikh Jamal Al Gurair.
Al Khaleej Sugar currently accounts for up to 3% of global refined sugar output. If the project proceeds, it would mark the UAE-based company’s first sugar production venture in Kazakhstan.
Sugar Sector in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan currently has four operational sugar factories: AksuKant in the Taldykorgan district, Koksu Sugar Factory in Almaty region, and the Merken and Taraz factories in Zhambyl region. Of these, three are configured to process sugar beets, while the Taraz facility processes raw cane sugar.
The primary beet-growing regions in Kazakhstan are Almaty and Zhambyl. In 2024, Kazakhstan harvested 1.2 million tons of sugar beets, yet only 700,000 tons were processed due to limited production capacity.
Last year, Kazakhstan produced 243,000 tons of sugar, less than half of its domestic consumption needs. Despite the local shortfall, a significant share of sugar output is exported, primarily to neighboring Russia. This imbalance has led to recurring supply challenges.
In summer 2022, a Russian export ban on sugar triggered a sharp price increase in Kazakhstan. In response, Kazakhstan began imposing its own seasonal ban on sugar exports from June to August to stabilize domestic prices. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the restriction remained in place last year.
The prospective Konaev plant, if realized, could significantly enhance Kazakhstan’s processing capacity and reduce its reliance on imported refined sugar, contributing to greater food security and industrial diversification.
