Kazakhstan's Dairy Industry Overview

The dairy sector in Kazakhstan is a pivotal component of the national economy, with strategic goals to achieve self-sufficiency in dairy production by 2027. Kazakhstan produces approximately 5.4 million metric tons of milk annually, reflecting its commitment to enhancing dairy capabilities.

Milk Production and Dairy Cattle

In 2024, Kazakhstan saw a 4.2% increase in milk production from January to October. The country maintains around 1.9 million dairy cattle, utilizing advanced technologies such as the DeLaval OptiDuo robotic feed pushers to enhance feeding efficiency. The establishment of 38 new dairy farms in 2024 led to a 21% increase in milk production over five years, with the cattle population rising by 15,960 heads.

Milk Processing and Product Manufacturing

Kazakhstan processes about 4.1 million metric tons of milk annually, producing around 39,000 metric tons of cheese and 28,000 metric tons of milk powder and whey. Key industry players include the Rakhmanovskiy Dairy Plant, KazMilk, and Kapchagay Milk Plant.

Export and Import Dynamics

The country exports approximately 65,000 metric tons of dairy products annually, primarily to Central Asia and Russia, while importing around 35,000 metric tons from Europe and Russia. In 2023, Kazakhstan expanded its exports to Greece and Poland with cream cheese.

Significant Industry Events

In 2024, Kazakhstan set a record by exporting 9,800 tons of ice cream from January to November. The North Kazakhstan Region invested KZT 17 billion (about $36 million) in modern dairy farms, aiming for a 70,000-ton increase in annual production. The Central Asian Dairy Congress AqAltyn is scheduled for late 2024 in Turkestan.

Market Dynamics

Dairy consumption is rising, with per capita milk consumption reaching 265 kg annually. The out-of-home sector is expanding, though there's a decline in the production of fermented products like cheese and cottage cheese.

Challenges and Growth Potential

A significant challenge is that 87% of veterinary laboratories do not meet international standards, impacting product quality and export potential. However, the preparation of over 20 million tons of animal feed for winter 2025-2026 indicates growth potential.

Industry Achievements

Between January and August 2025, butter production increased by 15%, and fermented dairy products by 6.4%. Gross agricultural production rose by 3.4%, with livestock production growing by 3.2%.

Innovations and Animal Feed Market

Investors have developed automated farms to provide transparent, verifiable data and reduce human error. The animal feed market is rapidly expanding, with exports reaching 1.7 million tons by the end of January-August 2025, primarily to China.

Strengthening Agricultural Ties with Iran

Kazakhstan is enhancing agricultural ties with Iran, including the establishment of a dairy plant by the Iranian Solico Group with a production capacity of 200,000 tons per year.

Kazakhstan's Ice Cream Market

The ice cream market is transforming, with new players and rising consumer expectations. In 2025, ice cream production reached 63.2 thousand tons, a 22% year-on-year increase.

Livestock and Poultry Exports

From January to November 2025, Kazakhstan exported over 1 million head of livestock and poultry, valued at $26.8 million, with significant imports from Russia.

Traditional Dairy Products

Kumys production increased by 11.8% in January-February 2026, while shubat production decreased by 22.2%.

Milk Yield and Production Dynamics

By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan recorded an increase in livestock production, with several regions leading in livestock and poultry slaughter volumes.

Trade Expansion with Turkey

Kazakhstan aims to expand its agricultural product exports to the Turkish market, with trade turnover expected to increase by over 25% by the end of 2025.

Structural Gap in Dairy Market

The dairy market in Kazakhstan maintains a structural gap between consumption and raw material processing. In 2025, the total gap between consumption and production was estimated at 3,394 thousand tons.

Dairy Cattle Genetics Seminar

The seminar 'Good Genetics' in Almaty focused on dairy cattle genetics and farm economics.

Partnership with Denmark

Kazakhstan is strengthening its partnership with Denmark in dairy farming, focusing on dairy farming development, technology transfer, and investment attraction.

Expansion in Dairy Industry

Kazakhstan has initiated significant expansion in the dairy industry with plans to build a new dairy farm and milk processing plant in the Akmola Region.

Subsidy Delays

Dairy farmers face subsidy delays amounting to 391.7 billion tenge, affecting local producers' capabilities.

Central Asian Dairy Congress AqAltyn 2026

Kazakhstan hosts the 4th Central Asian Dairy Congress AqAltyn 2026 in Shymkent, focusing on the Eurasian dairy industry's development.

Trade Agreement with Mongolia

Kazakhstan ratified the trade agreement with Mongolia, with trade turnover exceeding 133 million dollars by the end of 2025.