(4 March 2026 | Source: Facebook page of Asylzhan Mamytbekov)
Former Minister of Agriculture Asylzhan Mamytbekov has stated there may be a discrepancy in the statistics regarding the import of dairy products into Kazakhstan. He drew attention to a difference between the figures announced on the 24KZ television channel and data from open sources for 2024–2025. According to him, this raises questions about which information reflects the real situation.
WHAT WAS SHOWN IN THE NEWS
According to information published by Mamytbekov on his personal page on Facebook, the evening news broadcast on the 24KZ channel reported that milk imports into Kazakhstan had decreased by 4%. However, the infographic displayed a figure of 34.2 thousand tonnes.
Furthermore, the report did not specify the period to which this figure referred.
WHAT DATA DO OPEN SOURCES PROVIDE
The former minister compared this information with other published data on dairy product imports.
Thus, according to information from open sources, in 2024 Kazakhstan imported 183 thousand tonnes of dairy products, which is 4% more than in 2023.
It is also indicated that in just the first half of 2025, 107.1 thousand tonnes of such products were brought into the country. The final figures for the whole of 2025 have not yet been published, it is noted.
KAZAKHSTAN AMONG THE LARGEST BUYERS OF RUSSIAN DAIRY PRODUCTS
The ex-minister also reminded that Kazakhstan had previously been called the largest importer of dairy products from Russia.
According to a publication by Forbes.kz, of the total volume of Russian dairy exports in 2025 worth $530 million, supplies to Kazakhstan amounted to $225 million.
WHY QUESTIONS AROSE ABOUT THE STATISTICS
Having compared this data, the former minister questioned the accuracy of the information presented. According to him, it remains unclear which statistics reflect the real state of affairs.
He noted that in the case of discrepancies, the question arises as to who generates such data and for which audience it is intended.
It will be recalled that earlier the Astana Police Department refused to initiate a criminal case against the Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, following a complaint from agricultural expert Kirill Pavlov. The expert claimed that the head of the department had disseminated false information about Kazakhstan being 100% self-sufficient in dairy products.
Pavlov provided the police with data from official statistics, according to which in 2024 Kazakhstan imported milk and dairy products worth $410.7 million, with the total volume of supplies amounting to 183 thousand tonnes. According to this data, the import share of the cheese and cottage cheese market is 48%, and for butter and milk-fat products it is 15%.
Following the police refusal, the expert filed a new statement — this time against the administrator of the official government Telegram channel Ukimet, where information about the country being 100% self-sufficient in dairy products was published. Pavlov considers this information to be false and is asking for the identity of the channel's administrator to be established and for them to be held accountable under Article 456-2 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Placement, dissemination of false information").
As one of his arguments, he points to a public statement by a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), who previously spoke about the insufficiency of milk production in the country.