Kyrgyzstan’s cheese and cottage cheese imports rise 61% in January-April 2026

Import volume reaches 1,882 tonnes

Kyrgyzstan sharply increased its purchases of imported cheese and cottage cheese during the first four months of 2026. The country brought in 1,882 tonnes in January-April, 61% more than in the corresponding period of 2025, Tazabek reported, citing data from the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The figures point to a substantial expansion in the physical flow of imported dairy products into the Kyrgyz market. During the same four months a year earlier, Kyrgyzstan imported 1,169 tonnes of cheese and cottage cheese worth $5.2 million. This means the latest increase added 713 tonnes to the year-on-year volume, although the source did not provide the total value of imports for January-April 2026.

Without a current value figure, it is not possible to determine from the published data whether the average import price rose or fell. The reported 61% growth therefore describes the change in shipment volume, not spending. That distinction matters for importers and retailers assessing whether the market expanded because of stronger demand, changes in prices or a different product mix.

Russia leads volume, Belarus leads value

Russia remained Kyrgyzstan’s largest supplier by physical volume. Tazabek did not disclose Russia’s tonnage or share, but its leading position indicates that Russian producers and distributors continued to play the largest role in filling Kyrgyz demand for imported cheese and cottage cheese.

Belarus ranked first by value, accounting for 46.3% of Kyrgyzstan’s total imports in monetary terms. The difference between the volume and value rankings suggests that the composition or average declared value of Belarusian deliveries differed from those of Russia. The available figures do not specify product categories or unit prices, so they do not show whether the gap came from higher-priced cheese, packaging formats or other factors.

Iran gains while Kazakhstan loses volume

Iran recorded one of the clearest supplier gains. Its shipments to Kyrgyzstan increased from 12 tonnes in January-April 2025 to 75 tonnes in the same period of 2026. The rise of 63 tonnes made Iran a more visible source in the country’s dairy import portfolio, though its deliveries remained small compared with Kyrgyzstan’s total imports of 1,882 tonnes.

Kazakhstan moved in the opposite direction. Its supplies fell from 95 tonnes to 19 tonnes, a decline of 76 tonnes. For exporters, these shifts show that rapid growth in Kyrgyz import demand did not benefit every origin equally. Russian suppliers retained the volume lead, Belarus captured the largest share of import value, Iran expanded from a low base and Kazakhstan surrendered most of its previous shipment volume.