Apple market in Kazakhstan

Earlier Report Observations

State support for horticulture, including subsidies and preferential lending, stimulated the development of apple orchards in Kazakhstan. This led to an expansion of planted areas and the introduction of modern agrotechnologies, which helped raise production from 222.5 thousand metric tons in 2018 to a peak of 267.9 thousand metric tons in 2022. In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, production jumped by 20% as new plantings began to bear fruit.

Apple imports remained significant to meet domestic demand, peaking at 148.5 thousand metric tons in 2019. However, logistical disruptions from COVID-19 reduced imports to 106.8 thousand metric tons in 2020. Exports grew from 3.5 thousand metric tons in 2018 to 17.1 thousand metric tons in 2019, aided by improved agrotechnologies and market access. By 2023, exports surged to 35.8 thousand metric tons, mainly to Russia and Uzbekistan, while imports rose to 97.6 thousand metric tons. Combined with a dip in domestic production, this contributed to a decrease in total market volume to 313.3 thousand metric tons in 2023.

In response to a 58% increase in apple imports during the first seven months of 2024, the Kazakh government imposed a temporary ban on road imports from third countries until the end of 2024. This measure, approved by the Interdepartmental Commission on Foreign Trade Policy, aimed to protect domestic growers facing sales difficulties due to parallel imports.

Production apple in Kazakhstan

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of apple, 2017-2020

World map of production of apple, 2017-2020

In 2020, Kazakhstan produced 259.1 thousand tons of apples, marking a 19.7% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 43.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 12.7%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 2.7%. In contrast, the most significant increase was recorded in 2018, with a 22.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports apple from Kazakhstan

Exports in kind, K t

The export market for apples in Kazakhstan showed considerable volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a 12.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, apple exports amounted to 12.0 thousand tons, representing a sharp 29.8% decrease year-on-year. The maximum export volume was recorded in 2019 at 17.1 thousand tons, which also saw the largest increase of 394.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Russia dominated Kazakhstan's apple exports in volume, accounting for 93.8% of the total.

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

The value of apple exports from Kazakhstan exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. The minimum value was recorded in 2017, while the maximum occurred in 2019, with a 10.2-fold variation between these years. In 2020, the export value totaled 3 382 thousand US dollars, showing a controlled decrease of 7.5% compared to the previous year. The peak value was in 2019 at 3 658 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase was in 2018, with a 266.7% rise.

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

During 2017–2020, Russia was the dominant player in Kazakhstan's apple export value, holding a 96.0% share of total flows.

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

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

Imports apple to Kazakhstan

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Kazakhstan imported 106.8 thousand tons of apples, which was an abrupt 28.1% decline year-on-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 18.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 6.5%. The minimum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 104.6 thousand tons, while the maximum was in 2019 at 148.5 thousand tons. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 41.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the primary suppliers of apples to Kazakhstan in volume were Poland, with 58.3% of imports, Uzbekistan at 13.2%, and China at 9.8%. Together, these three countries accounted for 81.3% of total imports in kind.

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

In 2020, Kazakhstan imported 46 418 thousand US dollars worth of apples, representing a dramatic 30.3% drop compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 12.6%, with an annualized rate of 4.4%. The maximum import value was recorded in 2019 at 66 618 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 42.9%.

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

Over the period 2017–2020, three key markets—Poland, Uzbekistan, and China—collectively accounted for 81.7% of the total value of apple imports to Kazakhstan.

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

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