Kazakhstan’s meat market: Analysis of production, consumption, and export

This article aimed to analyse Kazakhstan’s meat market’s current state and development trends, focusing on production, consumption, and export, as well as identifying key issues and prospects for the industry. The study was based on an analysis of statistical data for 2014-2025 obtained from official sources, a comparative assessment of the efficiency of different farming structures (agroholdings, farms, and private subsidiary farms), and a regional analysis of production specialisation in the Almaty, Turkestan, and Karaganda regions of Kazakhstan. It was found that poultry production increased by 135% (to 340,000 tonnes in 2023), beef production by 18% (to 567,000 tonnes), whereas pork production declined by 45% due to epizootics. Kazakhstan was identified as the leading beef producer in Central Asia (2.5 times more than Uzbekistan) but lagged behind Kyrgyzstan in lamb production. The study revealed that agroholdings accounted for 55% of national production with a 18-22% profitability, whereas small farms demonstrated only 5-8% profitability due to manual labour and high production costs. Key issues identified included dependence on imported feed (70% of premixes), a deficit of modern processing infrastructure (only 35% of enterprises met international standards), and high interest rates on farm loans (14- 18% per annum). The practical significance of this study lies in substantiating recommendations for reducing import dependence, developing vertically integrated clusters (e.g., KazMeatCluster), expanding state support for small farms, and investing in digital technologies. The findings may be used to develop strategies for the advancement of Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector, enhance its competitiveness in international markets, and attract foreign investment