Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade foresees no sugar shortage this year

A severe sugar shortage struck the country in the summer of 2022 / Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Dastan Shanay

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Kairat Torebayev stated that Kazakhstan is not expected to face a sugar crisis this year due to the government’s engagement with sugar beet farmers and cooperation with sugar refineries.

«We have drawn conclusions from past sugar scarcities in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Agriculture has provided necessary assistance to farmers involved in sugar beet cultivation. Authorities also support domestic sugar factories, which process the beet and utilize imported materials. The work is underway. I don’t think we will face the same problem this time. No sugar shortage is expected,» he stated.

In the summer of 2022, Kazakhstanis experienced a sugar shortage following Russia’s temporary ban on sugar exports to EEU nations. At the time, about 55% of Kazakhstan’s sugar supply was imported from Russia, according to official statistics.

The country’s authorities refused to acknowledge the problem for four months straight. In the fifth month, when sugar literally disappeared from store shelves, they claimed to be negotiating supplies with Brazil, India and Vietnam.