In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan experienced a significant decline in exports of staple vegetables, while shipments of carrots abroad increased substantially, according to data from LS.
Potato exports totaled 23,700 tons, which is 12.4 times less than in the same period of 2024. The largest buyer remained Uzbekistan, which imported 17,200 tons, a decrease of almost 14-fold from last year's 243,600 tons. Deliveries to Turkmenistan fell to just 483 tons (down 36 times), and to Tajikistan to only 65 tons (a 527-fold drop).
At the same time, exports to Russia increased sharply, reaching 5,900 tons, which is 12 times more than last year. Belarus also purchased 43.6 tons, up 8.7-fold.
Exports of onions and garlic dropped to 50,300 tons, a 4.2-fold decrease. Russia remained the main market with 39,700 tons, though this was still down by almost 30%. Other destinations also saw reductions: Georgia (3,100 tons, down 1.7 times), Afghanistan (1,100 tons, down 3.3 times), Iraq (642 tons, down 3.3 times), Turkmenistan (490 tons, down 4.6 times), and Uzbekistan (626 tons, down 28 times).
However, shipments grew to several markets: Azerbaijan imported 3,100 tons (up 10.5 times), Belarus 828 tons (+17.7%), and Kyrgyzstan 238 tons (+66 times).
Exports of cabbage also decreased by 24% to 25,600 tons, worth around $5.2 million. Key markets included Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Poland, and Tajikistan.
In contrast, carrot exports grew strongly, rising by 37.6% to 18,200 tons. Growth was supported by new destinations: this year, Kazakhstan shipped carrots to Uzbekistan (4,500 tons), Ukraine (567 tons), Tajikistan (532 tons), and Belarus (113 tons), markets that did not import last year.
Russia remains the primary destination for Kazakh carrots with 12,400 tons, though this volume was 5.4% lower compared to 2024.
Source: lsm.kz
