Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov has stated that he does not consider beef to be unaffordable for Kazakh citizens and disagrees with claims that it has become significantly more expensive. According to him, the average price of a kilogram of beef across the country is 3,800 tenge, although in Astana the price of meat reaches 4,200 tenge per kg.
WHAT THE DEPUTY MINISTER SAYS ABOUT BEEF PRICES
As reported by the Telegram channel "QOS Live", Azat Sultanov has once again disagreed with the view that beef prices have risen substantially. The Deputy Minister said the average cost per kilogram of meat in shops across Kazakhstan is 3,800 tenge.
During the discussion, he was pointed out that beef can cost around 4,500 tenge per kg at farmers' markets. In response, Sultanov explained that he was citing the national average price.
WHY PRICES IN ASTANA ARE ABOVE THE AVERAGE
At the same time, the Deputy Minister himself acknowledged higher beef prices at certain retail outlets in Astana. According to him, meat at the Medeu market costs around 3,950 tenge per kg, while at the "Artem" and "Sauran" markets it is around 4,200 tenge per kg.
HOW THE DEPUTY MINISTER ASSESSES THE FODDER SITUATION
Sultanov also stated that he considers feed volumes for livestock to be sufficient, despite the impact of a hot summer in some regions. According to him, yields were lower in the Karaganda, Pavlodar and East Kazakhstan regions, while western regions performed better.
According to the Deputy Minister, the fodder procurement plan has been fulfilled by 80%, with the total volume of procured fodder of all types reaching 33.1 million tonnes. Sultanov believes the plan will be fulfilled by 100%. He also said he does not expect fodder shortages in any region.
CONTEXT
In July 2026, the average price of a kilogram of beef on the bone in Kazakhstan stood at 3.8 thousand tenge. Over the year, beef had risen in price by 15.1%.
Earlier, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev said that the main reasons were high domestic and export demand, as well as a shift in the structure of global consumption. According to him, there is no shortage of the product on the market.
Meanwhile, Azat Sultanov, in public comments on the meat market situation, has expressed disagreement with forecasts of significant price rises and has said there are no preconditions for a sharp increase in prices.
For instance, in June 2026 he stated that after the rise in lamb prices at the end of May, prices in several regions had begun to fall. At the same time, he acknowledged that meat prices had been affected not only by seasonal demand during Kurban Ait but also by exports: according to him, Kazakh lamb is in high demand on external markets, which is reflected in domestic pricing.
In February 2026, following livestock farmers' statements about a possible price of 10–12 thousand tenge per kilogram for beef, Azat Sultanov made reassuring comments. He said that talk of rising meat prices did not automatically mean higher prices for the product on the domestic market.
In December 2025, Sultanov commented on the forecast that Kazakhstan might in future begin importing meat from Uzbekistan at a price of 15–20 thousand tenge per kilogram. The ministry did not share such assessments. He also stated that meat prices had already stabilised and settled at 3.3 thousand tenge per kilogram for the shoulder cut.
