Prepared or preserved beef and offal market in Central Asia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market for prepared or preserved beef and offal in Kazakhstan expanded, with volume growing from 7 039 t to 8 760 t. This growth was primarily driven by sustained state support and an import-substitution policy, which stimulated investment in meat processing. The development of new product segments, including ready-to-eat and canned meat items, broadened the consumer offering. In 2020, despite pandemic-related logistics disruptions, strengthened government assistance and new labeling requirements helped maintain production, while heightened demand for preserved foods during COVID-19 further supported market volume.

Market volume then contracted to 6 293 t by 2022. The decline in 2021, to 7 473 t, coincided with the implementation of new quality and sanitary standards, which tightened controls on both domestic and imported products and led to a sharp drop in imports. Additionally, growing exports to CIS and Arab countries diverted some production away from the local market. In 2022, further legislative changes aimed at enhancing quality and safety control continued to pressure the market as the industry adjusted to the new norms.

A recovery began in 2023, with market volume rising to 7 177 t. This turnaround was fueled by investments in modernizing meat-processing plants and the expansion of product ranges, particularly semi-finished and sausage items. Rising exports to CIS and Middle Eastern markets provided an additional boost. For 2024, key drivers include a surge in exports of meat offal to China, which supports ongoing production growth estimated at 3-4%.

Production prepared or preserved beef and offal in Central Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of prepared or preserved beef and offal, 2017-2020

World map of production of prepared or preserved beef and offal, 2017-2020

Production of prepared or preserved beef and offal in Central Asia has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 5 466 tonnes, showing only a slight fluctuation compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 11.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.7%.

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

Exports prepared or preserved beef and offal from Central Asia

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 433 tonnes, then peaked in 2020 at 787 tonnes, marking an 81.5% year-on-year increase. The gap between these years was 1.8-fold. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 26.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, exports of prepared or preserved beef and offal from Central Asia were not concentrated on just a few key destinations. Russia accounted for 17.7% of exports in kind, Afghanistan for 8.9%, and Turkey for 8.5%, with these three countries together making up only 35.1% of total flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Exports of prepared or preserved beef and offal from Central Asia have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 3 288 thousand US dollars, up by 21.9% from the previous year. However, between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 17.5%, which translates to an annualized decline of 6.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 2 117 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 46.9%. In contrast, the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 27.4%.

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

During 2017–2020, Russia, Turkey, and Afghanistan played notable but not dominant roles as buyers of prepared or preserved beef and offal from Central Asia in value terms. Russia accounted for 14.2% of exports, Turkey for 12.4%, and Afghanistan for 9.1%, with their combined share reaching only 35.8% of total exports.

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

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

Imports prepared or preserved beef and offal to Central Asia

Imports in kind, t

Imports of prepared or preserved beef and offal into Central Asia have increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 4 080 tonnes, up by 32.5% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 40.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 12.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 2 492 tonnes, with the largest decline that year at 14.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Russia dominated imports in kind, accounting for 83.4% of the total, while the remaining flows were spread across a broad group of smaller countries.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Imports of prepared or preserved beef and offal into Central Asia have increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 9 651 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp rise of 43.6% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 58.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 16.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 5 055 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline that year at 16.9%.

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

In 2017–2020, Russia remained the primary source for prepared or preserved beef and offal imports into Central Asia, accounting for 74.5% of total imports in value terms, while the rest was distributed among other countries.

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

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