Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has clarified how the new rules on beef exports will work. This is not a full ban — rather, it’s a quota-based system designed to stabilize the market and protect domestic supply, DKNews.kz reports.
What has changed?
Starting December 31, 2025, export quotas apply to shipments of beef to EAEU member states and third countries. The rules will remain in force until June 30, 2026.
The total quota is set at 20,000 tons of beef.
Export rights will be granted only to meat-processing companies that:
- operate their own feedlots
- work as full-cycle producers — from feeding to processing
How much can be exported?
The quota depends on the capacity of a company’s feedlot:
- 5,000 head — up to 1,000 tons
- 10,000 head — 2,000 tons
- 15,000 head — 3,000 tons
- 20,000 head — 4,000 tons
- 50,000 head — up to 10,000 tons
In other words, priority goes to businesses that invest in production, not those that only trade livestock.
Why were restrictions needed?
The key reason is food security and price stability.
Previously, some companies and small slaughterhouses:
- bought cattle
- exported it without feeding or added value
- invested nothing in production
This opened the door for speculation, distorted supply-and-demand statistics, and ultimately pushed domestic prices higher.
The new system aims to:
- remove export intermediaries
- support full-cycle producers
- increase transparency and traceability
- ensure enough meat stays on the domestic market first
Who manages the quotas?
Quotas and timelines are determined by central government agencies in coordination with authorized regulators.
This allows the state to react quickly if market conditions change.
What does it mean for farmers and consumers?
According to the ministry’s vision:
- farmers and processors will gain a more predictable market
- investment in feedlots and technology will grow
- exports will become an opportunity — not a threat to local supply
- quality beef should become more affordable for consumers
Overall, the decision is aimed at long-term growth of Kazakhstan’s livestock sector and at building a stable, transparent domestic beef market.
