Growth was driven by poultry: supplies from China increased 3.6-fold, from Brazil by 31.2%. Russia remains the largest poultry supplier but delivered less. This is reported by LS based on data from the Bureau of National Statistics and the State Revenue Committee.

The gist in brief

• Meat imports over eight months amounted to 114.9 thousand tonnes worth $195.4 million, up 7.7%.
• Poultry meat and by-products accounted for 98.3 thousand tonnes worth $127.4 million, up 11.7%, about 86% of all imports.
• Russia supplied 46.2 thousand tonnes of poultry (down 8%), China - 16.3 thousand tonnes (3.6 times more), Brazil - 10.7 thousand tonnes (plus 31.2%).
• Beef imports fell by 3.6% (10.4 thousand tonnes worth $51.9 million), pork by 23.3%, horse meat by 13.8%.

Who supplies poultry

The main volume of meat imports is poultry and by-products: 98.3 thousand tonnes worth $127.4 million, 11.7% more than a year earlier. The statistics include fresh, chilled and frozen meat. The largest supplier remains Russia with 46.2 thousand tonnes, but its supplies decreased by 8%.

China delivered 16.3 thousand tonnes, i.e. 3.6 times more than a year earlier. Brazil supplied 10.7 thousand tonnes (plus 31.2%). Imports from the US amounted to 11.1 thousand tonnes, 16.9% less. From Ukraine came 7.5 thousand tonnes (plus 13%), from Belarus 5.4 thousand tonnes (plus 21%). Small batches were supplied by Latvia (593.6 t, 1.7 times more) and Slovakia (269.7 t, 1.9 times more). From Turkey came 219.3 t, but the dynamics cannot be calculated: there were no supplies from there in January-August 2025.

What about beef, pork and horse meat

Beef (cattle meat) imports amounted to 10.4 thousand tonnes worth $51.9 million, 3.6% less. The main supplier is Belarus with 7.6 thousand tonnes (down 9.5%). However, Brazil increased supplies 5.1 times to 1.3 thousand tonnes, and Uruguay - 11.6 times to 324.1 t. Russia cut imports 2.9 times to 544 t, Ukraine - 1.7 times to 585.2 t.

Pork imports amounted to 4.1 thousand tonnes worth $9.9 million, 23.3% less. From Russia came 3.3 thousand tonnes (1.6 times less), from Belarus 771.7 t. The dynamics for Belarus cannot be calculated: there were no supplies in January-August 2025.

Horse meat imports amounted to 1.6 thousand tonnes worth $5.4 million, 13.8% less. Uruguay supplied the most - 699.5 t (plus 23.5%), followed by Mongolia with 516.2 t (minus 4.4%) and Argentina with 293.3 t (2 times less). From Azerbaijan came 40 t (2 times less), from Russia 67.3 t (plus 13.9%).

What is happening with meat and livestock inside the country

Beef in Kazakhstan is becoming more expensive faster than wages: since April 2024, a kilogram on the bone has risen in price by 42% to 3,810 tenge, while the median salary grew by 22%. The "Auyl" faction linked the failure of livestock projects to the fact that the price of livestock in state programs is 20-30% below market. This is the MPs' assertion; the Ministry of Agriculture's response is not in the material.

At the same time, exports of live animals are growing: in January-May 2026, exports of livestock and poultry grew 1.7 times to 717.2 thousand head. In terms of horse population, Kazakhstan, according to FAO data, ranks fourth in the world with 4.4 million head.

Author's conclusion

The structure of imports is determined by poultry: 98.3 thousand tonnes out of 114.9 thousand tonnes. This is where the set of suppliers is changing: Russia is losing ground, China grew 3.6 times, and Brazil by 31.2%. In monetary terms the picture is different: beef was worth $51.9 million for 10.4 thousand tonnes, while poultry was $127.4 million for 98.3 thousand tonnes. Imports of beef, pork and horse meat meanwhile declined.