Sugar production volume in Kazakhstan for January–October 2024 amounted to 168.1 thousand tonnes, the lowest figure since 2020.
According to Energyprom, excluding the period of the coronavirus outbreak, such low figures were last recorded in 2012. It is noted that sugar output has been declining for the second consecutive year: by 17.6% this year and by 31.1% last year.
By region, for January–September 2024, the largest sugar production volumes were in:
- Zhambyl Region - 71.6 thousand tonnes (45.7% of total volume);
- Zhetysu Region - 62.7 thousand tonnes (40% of total volume);
- Almaty Region - 20.7 thousand tonnes (13.2% of total volume).
The remaining regions account for only 1.7 thousand tonnes, or 1.1% of total output.
It is reported that increasing sugar production requires billion-tenge investments in factories. Currently, sugar plants are on average 33% worn out. For example, the Aksu Kant LLP enterprise is 15%–18% dilapidated, while the Taraz Sugar Plant is 60%–70% dilapidated.
Meanwhile, the construction of new sugar plants in the country continues, although some projects remain at the planning stage. For instance, the construction of a new plant and the modernisation of sugar production facilities in Zhambyl Region are still at the document preparation phase. In Pavlodar Region, investors are being sought for a similar plant. In Aktobe Region, project implementation has been suspended altogether.
At the same time, as of October, retail prices for granulated sugar fell by 1.6%, and for sugar cubes — by 0.3%. Compared to October last year, granulated sugar became cheaper by 5.2%, and sugar cubes — by 0.6%.
The average retail price of granulated sugar across the country was 403 tenge per kg. By region, the price of granulated sugar per kg was: in Taldykorgan - 436 tenge; in Semey - 424 tenge; in Almaty - 426 tenge; in Aktobe - 360 tenge; in Uralsk - 380 tenge; in Taraz - 383 tenge; in Shymkent - 383 tenge.