Since the start of the year, over 200 entrepreneurs in Shymkent have been held accountable for the unjustified increase in prices of socially significant food products (SSFPs). According to the city's agriculture department, 15 of them were fined for inflating the price of meat.
According to the city akimat, the monitoring covered hundreds of retail outlets. It is noted that beef (shoulder-brisket cut with bone) is included in the list of 19 SSFP items whose prices are subject to control.
"Currently, there are about 60 social retail outlets operating in Shymkent. In addition, agricultural fairs are held weekly, where beef with bone is also sold at a stable price — within the range of 3,200–3,300 tenge per kilogram. Meat products are supplied directly from livestock farms in the Turkestan region," said Talgat Mekambayev, head of the agriculture department.
He clarified that pure beef meat (fillet) is not included in the list of price-regulated goods. According to Mekambayev, under agreements with the Kaskasu-S and Baiterek farming enterprises, the ex-factory price is 2,620 tenge per kilogram.
Furthermore, under the "product distribution scheme" mechanism, agreements have been reached with the Magnum and Gramad retail chains, where beef (shoulder-brisket cut with bone) is sold at 2,590 tenge per kilogram.
At the same time, commercial meat is also sold at city markets, the price of which reaches 3,800–4,000 tenge per kilogram. According to specialists, the price increase at private outlets is linked to seasonal demand, rising feed costs, and increased exports.
The akimat noted that there is no meat shortage in Shymkent and urged residents to use retail outlets with regulated prices.
Recall, in January, residents of Shymkent complained about a sharp spike in meat prices. At that time, the cost of lamb and beef increased by 500 tenge. Residents reported that in December they bought beef for 2,700 tenge, and in January already for 3,200 tenge.
In July, it was reported that beef prices in Shymkent reached up to 5,000 tenge per kilogram of fillet, although a week earlier the price was 4,200 tenge. Experts link the price increase to the intense heatwave, which destroyed fodder crop plantings. According to their estimates, meat will become even more expensive by autumn, and following Shymkent, prices may rise in other regions of Kazakhstan as well.