Market research

Horse, donkey and mule meat market in Central Asia

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Central Asia" region includes following countries:

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, horse meat production in Central Asia was supported by traditional breeding methods, including the use of communal pastures and winter facilities, which provided a stable basis for growth. Even in 2020, when the global COVID-19 pandemic could have disrupted supply chains, production continued to increase, reflecting steady domestic demand for this type of meat.

Growth accelerated in 2022 when production of fresh and chilled red meat, including horse meat, in Kazakhstan rose by 8.1% in the January-October period, while simultaneous price increases indicated strengthening consumer demand. This momentum allowed the market to reach 206.6 thousand tons by 2023, growing by over 29% across the entire period from 2018.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Central Asia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central Asia in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kazakhstan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kazakhstan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kazakhstan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kazakhstan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kazakhstan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kazakhstan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kazakhstan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production horse, donkey and mule meat in Central Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of horse, donkey and mule meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of horse, donkey and mule meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Central Asia's production of horse, donkey, and mule meat has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 175.1 thousand tons, marking an 8.0% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 19.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 6.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.6%	2.9%	8.0%	6.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports horse, donkey and mule meat from Central Asia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Import levels varied widely, with a 49-fold difference between the peak in 2020 and the low in 2018. In 2020, exports of horse, donkey, and mule meat from Central Asia totaled 42 tons, representing a sharp decline of 67.7% compared to 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(67.7%)	n/a	n/a	150.1%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, exports in kind were heavily concentrated on Russia, which accounted for 98.8% of the total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend over this period. Volumes reached their highest point in 2020 and their lowest in 2018, with a 39-fold shift between these years. In 2020, the value of exported horse, donkey, and mule meat from Central Asia was 127 thousand US dollars, indicating a decrease of 69.7% from 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(69.7%)	n/a	n/a	127.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Russia was the primary and nearly exclusive market for exports in value terms of horse, donkey, and mule meat from Central Asia, making up 98.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports horse, donkey and mule meat to Central Asia

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Central Asia's imports of horse, donkey, and mule meat amounted to 2 133 tons, reflecting an 18.3% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 19.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.1%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 7.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.0%)	7.8%	(18.3%)	(7.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the top suppliers of horse, donkey, and mule meat to Central Asia in kind were Argentina (38.4% of imports), Uruguay (23.3%), and Mongolia (18.9%). Together, these three countries accounted for 80.6% of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Central Asia's imports of horse, donkey, and mule meat declined. In 2020, imports reached 4 918 thousand US dollars, down 19.3% year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 7.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 6 096 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 11.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.7%	2.6%	(19.3%)	(2.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, three key markets—Argentina, Uruguay, and Mongolia—collectively accounted for 80.3% of total imports in value terms of horse, donkey, and mule meat to Central Asia.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io