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Kazakhstan is witnessing a significant decline in beef consumption, with citizens increasingly finding it unaffordable. Experts point to a growing disparity between household incomes and the escalating cost of essential food items as the primary driver behind this trend.

Shrinking Appetite for Beef

The decrease in beef consumption is stark. According to Maksut Baktybayev, chairman of the Union of Meat Producers of Kazakhstan, the country's annual beef consumption has fallen from 500,000 tons five years ago to approximately 400,000 tons today. This translates to a per capita reduction, with the average Kazakh consuming around 20 kilograms of beef annually, down from a previous average of 27-28 kilograms.

The Price-Wage Squeeze

Experts attribute this shift primarily to the widening gap between people's earnings and the soaring prices of groceries. When the cost of beef escalates from 2,500 tenge to 3,000 and then 4,000 tenge per kilogram, individuals whose wages have not kept pace find it difficult to maintain their previous purchasing habits.

"Consequently, you either buy less, or you switch to cheaper types of meat or sausages. That's exactly what's happening. According to statistics, the consumption of poultry, or chicken, has increased by 10 kilograms per capita. This is how the substitution has occurred," Baktybayev explained in an interview with the TengeTalks channel.

Affordable Beef for Export

Ironically, while Kazakh consumers are cutting back, the country's beef is being exported at lower prices. Last year, Kazakhstan exported beef at an average price of 2,000 tenge per kilogram, highlighting a disconnect between domestic affordability and international market dynamics.

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