Frozen vegetables market in Kazakhstan

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the frozen vegetable market in Kazakhstan more than doubled in volume, growing from 4 124 t to 8 215 t. This surge was propelled by state programs for agribusiness development, which spurred investments in vegetable processing and the expansion of greenhouse areas. The COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020 further boosted demand for frozen vegetables as convenient, long‑shelf‑life products, leading to a sharp rise in imports to meet consumption needs.

The market then contracted over 2021‑2022, falling to 5 798 t in 2022. The introduction of new sanitary‑epidemiological requirements for food products in 2021 created temporary hurdles for production and sales. In 2022, global logistics disruptions and ongoing pandemic‑related effects severely constrained import flows, causing a 28.5% drop in inbound shipments.

Partial recovery followed in 2023, with market volume reaching 6 816 t. Domestic production declined as vegetable processing shrank by 13.8% due to adverse weather and economic factors, a gap partly filled by an 18.8% increase in imports. By 2024, Russia’s restrictions on imports of several vegetables from Kazakhstan on phytosanitary grounds, enacted in October 2024, created new export barriers, while domestic state programs continued to support greenhouse expansion and processing‑plant modernization.

Production frozen vegetables in Kazakhstan

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of frozen vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of frozen vegetables, 2017-2020

In 2020, Kazakhstan produced 1,183 tonnes of frozen vegetables, remaining essentially unchanged from the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 12.2%, which translates to an average annual increase of 3.9%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1,184 tonnes. The most significant year-on-year growth occurred in 2018, with a 7.1% increase.

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

Exports frozen vegetables from Kazakhstan

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited considerable volatility throughout the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 16 tonnes, then surged to a peak in 2017, showing a dramatic 22-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Kazakhstan exported 335 tonnes of frozen vegetables, representing a substantial 167.4% increase compared to 2019. The most significant decline was recorded in 2018 at 95.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a remarkable 666.9% growth.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Russia and Kyrgyzstan consistently served as the primary destinations for Kazakhstan's frozen vegetable exports, together accounting for 100.0% of total export volumes.

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 data reveals irregular fluctuations, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 at 25 thousand US dollars, then climbed to a high in 2020, showing a 10.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, frozen vegetable exports from Kazakhstan reached 262 thousand US dollars, marking a significant 296.1% increase year-over-year. The most substantial decline occurred in 2018 at 85.9%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, two markets—Russia and Kyrgyzstan—dominated Kazakhstan's frozen vegetable exports in value terms, jointly representing 100.0% of total export 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 frozen vegetables to Kazakhstan

Imports in kind, t

Kazakhstan's imports of frozen vegetables increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 7,368 tonnes, showing a sharp 62.5% uptick compared to 2019. Over the broader 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 139.9%, equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 33.9%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 3,011 tonnes, which saw a modest decline of 1.9% that year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Russia and Poland formed the dominant pair of source markets for Kazakhstan's frozen vegetable imports in volume terms, jointly accounting for 82.6% of total flows, while other countries represented the remaining share.

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

Kazakhstan's frozen vegetable imports increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 4,771 thousand US dollars, showing a moderate 9.2% rise compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 42%, equating to an average annual increase of 12.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 3,310 thousand US dollars, which experienced a 1.5% decline that year. The most significant increase occurred in 2019 with 32.0% growth.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Russia (46.9% of import value), Poland (32.5%), and Hungary (9.6%) continued to lead as the main suppliers of frozen vegetables to Kazakhstan, together accounting for 89.0% of total import value.

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

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