Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov, who had previously spoken against forecasts of a significant rise in meat prices, acknowledged the impact of exports and external markets on the cost of lamb in Kazakhstan. According to him, after a sharp price increase at the end of May, prices in a number of regions have begun to fall, with seasonal demand and exports influencing the situation.
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH PRICES
As reported by Ulysmedia.kz, Azat Sultanov stated that in the Zhetysu region, a kilogram of lamb currently costs around 3.8 thousand tenge, while the average price across the country is 4.2 thousand tenge.
The publication's correspondent noted that in Astana, a kilogram of lamb costs 5.5 thousand tenge. The Deputy Minister replied that the price had already dropped to 5.1 thousand tenge, calling this price level fair.
"This is a very good opportunity for farmers to develop their farms and increase livestock numbers. This will make sense for the development of livestock farming," he said.
WHAT REASONS FOR THE PRICE RISE THE MINISTRY CITED
The Deputy Minister linked the price increase to several factors. In particular, he noted that Kurban Ait fell during the summer period, when demand for meat increases.
Furthermore, according to him, exports had an additional impact. Azat Sultanov reported that Kazakh lamb is in demand in neighbouring markets and in Eastern countries.
"We are working on supplies of our lamb to the Persian Gulf countries, even to Africa. Therefore, there is an influence of external prices on the domestic market," stated the Deputy Minister.
WHY EXPORT RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT BEING INTRODUCED
According to Azat Sultanov, the Ministry of Agriculture is not considering restrictions on lamb exports, as was previously the case with beef.
The Deputy Minister stated that there are no prerequisites for a lamb shortage in the country. In his assessment, prices should stabilise on their own.
CONTEXT
Earlier, Azat Sultanov, in public comments on the situation in the meat market, had disagreed with forecasts of a significant price increase and spoke of the absence of prerequisites for a sharp rise in prices.
In December 2025, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov commented on the forecast of former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Toletai Rakhimbekov that Kazakhstan might in the future begin importing meat from Uzbekistan at a price of 15–20 thousand tenge per kilogram. According to Sultanov, the ministry did not share such assessments. He also stated that meat prices had already stabilised and settled at the level of 3.3 thousand tenge per kilogram for shoulder cuts. The Deputy Minister explained the autumn price increase by a surge in demand for Kazakh meat in Central Asian countries, and said that quotas on meat exports from Kazakhstan had been introduced to stabilise the situation.
In February 2026, following statements from livestock farmers about the potential cost of beef at 10–12 thousand tenge per kilogram, Azat Sultanov again issued reassuring comments. He said that talk of rising meat prices did not automatically mean a price increase for products on the domestic market. The Deputy Minister also stated that thanks to an increase in livestock numbers and growth in production, it would be possible to avoid a shortage situation and supply the domestic market. According to him, the ministry intended to maintain a balance between exports and domestic consumption.
In June 2026, the ministry's rhetoric shifted towards explaining the price increase that had already occurred.