Kazakhstan banned potato exports for six months to stabilize domestic prices and curb market speculation, the government’s press service said.
According to the сabinet, the decision was prompted by increased demand from neighboring countries, particularly Uzbekistan, and high export prices.
Over the past year, Kazakhstan’s potato exports surged 1.5 times — from 411,000 to 605,000 tons. In just one week, prices among export-oriented producers jumped from 170 to 270 Kazakh tenge ($0.32 to $0.52) per kilogram.
The restriction does not apply to countries within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU, unites Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia), though exports in this direction will be closely monitored.
“Given the current situation, the issuance of phytosanitary certificates for potato exports was completely suspended on 16 January,” the government stated.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture assured that the country’s potato reserves were sufficient to meet domestic demand until the early harvest of 2025.
In 2024, potato prices in Kazakhstan rose by an average of 37.7%, largely due to spring floods that delayed planting and unfavorable summer weather conditions.
According to Uzbekistan’s State Statistics Agency, from January to November 2024, the country imported 627,000 tons of potatoes, 74.2% (or 465,200 tons) of which came from Kazakhstan. Over the past year, potato prices in Uzbekistan surged by nearly 40%.
In November, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced plans to introduce a monitoring system for 10 key food products, including potatoes, onions, eggs, milk, flour, rice and cooking oil. The Ministry of Agriculture has since proposed measures to meet rising demand, including expanding potato and rice cultivation areas and developing new sunflower seed varieties.
