Kazakh ice cream producer weighs exports to Vietnam and South Korea

Popular Kazakh ice cream producer Shin-Line is negotiating to export its products to South Korea and Vietnam. According to the company’s representative, the main challenge is the high cost of delivery to these countries.

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture reported on potential exports of Kazakh ice cream, noting that Shin-Line is exploring the use of refrigerated containers for sea transport.

Shin-Line’s Head of Board of Directors Dmitry Dokin confirmed to Kursiv.media that negotiations are indeed underway, but the possibility of exporting to these countries faces logistical challenges. For now, delivering Kazakh products would be both lengthy and costly. If shipments begin after all, they will combine truck and sea transport.

Notably, the company plans to enter the market of Saudi Arabia this year. Dokin emphasized that they have already found a distributor for the ice cream. However, potential sales volumes of Kazakh ice cream in the kingdom are difficult to predict for now.

Currently, Shin-Line’s export geography spans 10 countries: Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and China. In 2025, the company aims to increase export volumes from 10,000 to 14,000 tons.

In August 2024, Kursiv.media reported that, if exports to Saudi Arabia proved successful, Shin-Line would consider building a production plant in the country.

In addition, in May, Kursiv.media reported that Shin-Line’s founder and owner Andrey Shin, in partnership with his South Korean partners, was building a 200-bed hospital near Almaty.

Shin-Line was established in 2002. Its owners are Andrey Shin and his wife Natalya.