Alcoholic beer market in Kazakhstan

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, Kazakhstan's beer production and market volume expanded steadily. This growth was initially supported by the 2017 ban on industrial beer production in PET packaging, which spurred a shift toward cans and glass bottles. The subsequent rise of specialized alcohol stores and the abolition of the '100-meter rule' near schools improved retail access. The introduction of new state regulations on alcohol production and turnover from January 2018, followed by stricter labeling and control rules in 2019, further structured the market.

After peaking in 2021, the market entered a downturn. The enforcement of mandatory product labeling for beer in 2021 added compliance costs, while tightening retail controls—including night-time sales bans for strong alcohol—affected overall alcohol sales sentiment. A sharp 18.6% price increase for beer in 2023 significantly dampened consumption, leading to a 14.8% drop in production and a 12.6% contraction in domestic sales volume that year.

Regulatory momentum continued into 2024 with the full rollout of mandatory labeling for all beer packaging and the requirement for cash registers to be linked to a permissive sales system from June. Although new local breweries opened and major players like Carlsberg Kazakhstan maintained leadership, these measures reinforced market consolidation around labeled products and boosted the share of domestic production above 90%.

Production alcoholic beer in Kazakhstan

In kind, 2017-2020, M l

Top producers of alcoholic beer, 2017-2020

World map of production of alcoholic beer, 2017-2020

Kazakhstan's alcoholic beer production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 692.5 million liters of alcoholic beer, representing a 4.3% year-over-year rise. From 2017 to 2020, production grew by 23%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 7.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, M l

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Alcoholic beer production in Kazakhstan has risen for the third year in a row. In 2020, the output was valued at 300.5 million US dollars, marking an 11.2% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production expanded by 46.6%, with an annualized growth rate of 13.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports alcoholic beer from Kazakhstan

Exports in kind, K l

Alcoholic beer exports from Kazakhstan have grown for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 22 052 thousand liters, reflecting a 23.6% year-over-year increase. From 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 152.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 36.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Between 2017 and 2020, Russia remained the leading buyer of alcoholic beer from Kazakhstan, accounting for 79.1% of total exports in volume. The remaining exports were distributed among various other countries.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Kazakhstan's alcoholic beer export value has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country exported 9 570 thousand US dollars worth of alcoholic beer, showing a sharp rise of 31.8% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 201%, with an annualized rate of 44.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Russia was the primary market for alcoholic beer from Kazakhstan, making up 79.1% of total exports in value. Other destinations contributed to a smaller portion of the export volume.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020

Imports alcoholic beer to Kazakhstan

Imports in kind, K l

Imported alcoholic beer volumes in Kazakhstan have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume reached 66 965 thousand liters, indicating an 8.4% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 4.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 98 288 thousand liters. In 2019, imports saw the largest decline of 25.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 53.5% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, K l

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Russia remained the dominant and nearly exclusive source for alcoholic beer imports to Kazakhstan, holding a 95.4% share of total imports in volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, alcoholic beer imports to Kazakhstan have declined. In 2020, imports totaled 25 952 thousand US dollars, marking a steep 31.6% drop compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 18.6%, with an annualized decline rate of 6.6%. The peak import value was recorded in 2019 at 37 916 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 16.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Russia continued to be the main market for alcoholic beer imports to Kazakhstan in value terms, accounting for 87.9% of total imports. The remaining imports were spread across numerous other destinations.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Kazakhstan in value, 2017-2020