Potato imports in Kazakhstan for the first half of 2022 exceeded exports by 4,7 times, reports monitoring agency Energyprom.kz with reference to the data of the strategic planning agency of the republic.
In 2022, the sown area of potatoes, according to preliminary data, amounted to 198,9 thousand hectares, which is 1,9% more than a year earlier. The highest rates were noted in the North Kazakhstan region: 31,5 thousand hectares, minus 1,2% per year. The top three also included Almaty (26,1 thousand ha, minus 35,8%) and Pavlodar (24,9 thousand ha, plus 22,4%) regions.
In July of this year, the cost of a kilogram of potatoes on average in Kazakhstan amounted to 182 tenge per kg - 4,2% more than a year earlier (1 Kazakhstani tenge = 0,1289 Russian rubles).
Residents of the Atyrau region felt the rise in prices most of all: by 43% at once. The three anti-leaders also included Mangistau (plus 21,6%) and Kostanay (plus 20%) regions.
In 8 out of 17 regions of the country, the cost of potatoes fell. The most noticeable reduction in price compared to July last year was recorded in the East Kazakhstan region: by 13,9%.
The highest cost of a kilogram of potatoes among the major cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan was recorded in Aktau (255 tenge), Atyrau (224 tenge) and the capital (204 tenge), the lowest - in Karaganda (137 tenge).
In the first quarter of this year, the average consumption of potatoes was 11,4 kg per capita, 1,3% less than a year earlier.
Potato lovers live in Pavlodar, Akmola and Kostanay regions: in these regions, 13,9 kg, 13,3 kg and 13,2 kg per capita, respectively.
The lowest level of consumption was recorded in Shymkent: only 9 kg of potatoes per capita per quarter, minus 11,6% per year.
In general, for 2021, the consumption level was 3,9 kg of potatoes per capita per month, in 2020 - 4,2 kg, in 2001 - 5,5 kg.
In 2021, the gross potato harvest was 4 million tons - almost the same as a year earlier, plus only 0,6%.
In the regional context, most potatoes were harvested in Almaty (789,8 thousand tons), Pavlodar (581,7 thousand tons) and North Kazakhstan (551,4 thousand tons) regions.
Despite the increase in the volume of harvest and yield of potatoes in 2021, in the first half of this year, potato imports exceeded exports for the first time: 4,7 times - 38,7 thousand tons against 8,2 thousand tons.
At the same time, exports have always exceeded imports. So, for example, in 2021, exports in the corresponding period amounted to 71,4 thousand tons, against 52,4 thousand tons of imports (a difference of 36,3%), in 2020 it did reach 151,8 thousand tons. , against 19,7 thousand tons of imports (the difference is 7,7 times).
Meanwhile, farmers in Kazakhstan began harvesting early varieties of potatoes from the fields as early as August, reports Khabar24. Mass harvesting began in early September.
The upcoming potato harvest in Kazakhstan may exceed last year's volumes. Of the 2 million tons needed for the domestic market, about 300 thousand tons will be surplus. The expected surplus is intended to be fully exported. From the warehouse, farmers can even sell potatoes at 80 tenge per kg.