Kazakhstan eyes meat exports to Japan, South Korea and Turkey

Kazakhstan may begin exporting meat to South Korea, Japan and Turkey later in 2026, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Agriculture Amangaliy Berdalin said.

«We want to gain access to the markets of South Korea, Japan and Turkey as early as this year… Most of our meat exports go to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan,» Berdalin told reporters.

He noted that Kazakhstan exported 84,000 tons of meat in 2025, up 43% from 2024. Berdalin added that the number of importing countries is gradually increasing.

In particular, Kazakhstan exports mutton to 14 countries and beef to eight. Berdalin believes that, even after transportation costs are taken into account, Kazakhstani meat remains price-competitive in these markets.

«At the same time, we see no competition,» he said.

Separately, Zhanibek Kenzhebayev, chairman of the Turan Livestock Association, said that Kazakhstan could export horse meat to Japan at a price of at least $15 per kilogram.