Kazakhstan emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian-made potato chips in January 2026, importing more than $7 million worth of products from its neighbor.
At the same time, construction of a major potato chip plant backed by PepsiCo is nearing completion in Alatau, a flagship new city development in the Almaty region.
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Russian daily Vedomosti, citing Agroexport, reported that Russia’s potato chip exports rose 1.5 times year-on-year in January to reach $22 million. In volume terms, exports totaled about 4,600 tons.
Belarus was the top importer, purchasing $8.5 million worth of chips. Kazakhstan ranked second with more than $7 million, followed by Uzbekistan ($2.5 million), Azerbaijan ($1.4 million) and Kyrgyzstan (about $762,000). Kazakhstan accounted for roughly 32% of Russia’s total potato chip exports during the month.
PepsiCo plant nears completion
Meanwhile, construction continues on a 50,000-square-meter salty snacks plant in the Alatau special economic zone. The project is being developed by PepsiCo, which owns brands including Lay’s.
Total investment in the facility has reached $360 million.
Launch set for mid-2026
The plant is scheduled to open in June 2026. At full capacity, it is expected to process up to 210,000 tons of potatoes annually and produce about 70,000 tons of potato chips.
