Kazakhstan Suspends Potato Exports to Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan has restricted potato exports outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for six months, Tengrinews reports.

The price of potatoes at the production level surged from 160 to 270 tenge per kilogram (UZS 3,900 to UZS 6,600). Retail prices have risen even more sharply, with potatoes in Astana supermarkets now selling for 455 tenge (UZS 11,100) per kilogram.

Kazakhstan’s government attributed the sharp price increase to rising exports and higher export prices. In 2024, the country’s agricultural producers exported 605,000 tonnes of potatoes, compared to 411,000 tonnes the previous year.

Uzbekistan was the largest buyer of Kazakh potatoes, importing 465,000 tonnes between January and October 2024.

Kazakhstan’s potato reserves are estimated at 850,000 tonnes, excluding retail stocks. This supply is expected to last until the early harvest of 2025.