The Ministry of Agriculture sees no grounds for a sharp rise in beef prices in Kazakhstan. This was stated by Deputy Minister Nazgul Khatepova, who noted growth in meat production volumes and livestock numbers.
HOW MUCH BEEF COSTS IN KAZAKHSTAN
According to Nazgul Khatepova, the average price of a kilogram of beef across the republic is 3,800 tenge.
In Astana, the cost of meat varies from 3,800 to 4,000 tenge and higher. Daily market monitoring shows that at the Shapagat market a kilogram of beef costs around 3,900 tenge, while at the Artyom market — approximately 4,500 tenge.
WHY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE DOES NOT EXPECT A SHARP PRICE RISE
At the Ministry of Agriculture, the absence of prerequisites for a sharp rise in prices is attributed to an increase in production volumes and growth in livestock numbers.
According to Nazgul Khatepova, positive production dynamics continue. In particular, following the results of the first eight months of 2026, the ministry recorded growth in meat production volumes.
CONTEXT
Earlier, Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev stated that the main reasons for the price rise were high domestic and export demand, as well as changes in the structure of global consumption. According to him, there is no shortage of products on the market.
Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin instructed a detailed analysis of the meat market due to the continuing rise in prices.
At the same time, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov in public comments on the situation in the meat market expressed disagreement with forecasts of a significant price rise and spoke of the absence of prerequisites for a sharp increase in prices.
Thus, in September 2026, he stated that he did not consider beef unaffordable for Kazakhstanis and expressed disagreement with the claim that it had risen significantly in price.
In June 2026, the deputy minister reported that after the rise in the price of lamb at the end of May, prices in a number of regions began to decline. At the same time, he acknowledged that the cost of meat was affected not only by seasonal demand during Kurban Ait, but also by exports.
In February 2026, after livestock breeders' statements about a possible cost of beef of 10–12 thousand tenge per kilogram, Azat Sultanov made reassuring comments. He said that talk of rising meat prices does not mean an automatic increase in the price of products on the domestic market.
In December 2025, Sultanov commented on a forecast that Kazakhstan could in future begin importing meat from Uzbekistan at a price of 15–20 thousand tenge per kilogram. The ministry did not share such assessments.
According to Kazakh farmers, the rise in prices is linked to an increase in production costs. According to them, the main expenses are for feed, wages, veterinary services, taxes and the upkeep of farms. Producers also noted that purchase prices remain on the edge of profitability, and one of the reasons for the high cost of meat was cited as the insufficient development of deep processing of livestock products.
