The Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reflecting on the 2024 outcomes, highlighted an uptick in potato yields and consistent export interest, as per EastFruit reports. Baizhan Ualkhanov, the newly appointed leader of the Union, shared insights with the "APK News" agency on the annual achievements and forthcoming objectives. He remarked on the successful potato and storable vegetable harvest, reaching approximately 1 million tons, a notable improvement from the previous year. This yield has facilitated the maintenance of wholesale prices ranging from 120-160 tenge ($0.23-$0.31) per kg, influenced by logistics factors.
Key storage hubs for these commodities are identified in the Pavlodar, Kostanay, Karaganda, and Akmola regions, ensuring price stability in the domestic market until the early potato harvest from southern areas is introduced. On the export front, Ualkhanov observed a robust and steady demand, particularly for chip and french-fry potato varieties, signaling a strategic focus for the 2025 planting cycle. While traditional export destinations include Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan, there's emerging interest from Russia and Belarus, primarily for seed and industrial potatoes, albeit with cautious export management to preserve longstanding trade relations and comply with domestic market commitments.
Source: East Fruit