Kazakhstan’s Mutton Exports: Uzbekistan Leads, but Distant Markets Pay More

In 2024, Kazakhstan exported 17.6 thousand tons of various types of mutton — fresh, chilled, and frozen. This was reported by agricultural market expert Toleutai Rakhimbekov.

Main Destinations
The key buyer was neighboring Uzbekistan, which received 13.9 thousand tons of products, accounting for almost 80% of total exports. The average selling price to this market was about $2.4 per kilogram.

Exports to Distant Countries
Exports to distant foreign markets amounted to 3.49 thousand tons, with significantly higher prices — almost $6.5 per kilogram.
• UAE purchased 1,241.7 tons at an average price of $6.55/kg.
• Iran imported 1,161 tons.
• Qatar — 494.5 tons at $7.4/kg.
• Kuwait — 410.9 tons at $7.6/kg.
• Saudi Arabia — 163.3 tons at $7.5/kg.
• Syria — 16.6 tons.
• Jordan — 1.7 tons.

Import Statistics
Kazakhstan imported just 31.1 tons of mutton, including 27.7 tons from Russia and 3.4 tons from Kyrgyzstan. The total value of imports was $174.7 thousand, with an average price of $5.62 per kilogram.

Significance for the Industry
The data shows that while neighboring countries dominate in export volumes, distant markets bring much higher revenue. This highlights the potential for expanding Kazakhstan’s export geography and finding new partners in premium markets.