Trade Ministry announces reasons for higher prices of goods in Kazakhstan

Rising prices for feed, raw materials, fuels and lubricants, logistics became the food price driver in Kazakhstan. Spokesperson of the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration Aidar Abildabekov stated this during a briefing. He also named the reasons for the rise in sugar prices. This is the geopolitical situation in the world, connected with the events in Ukraine and the ban on the export of sugar from Russia, from where Kazakhstan used to import over 50 percent of this product.

“Nothing happened, the situation with sugar in Kazakhstan is stable. However, widespread concern jacked up the prices. In fact, a slight increase could be acceptable due to the growth of the dollar, but some small retail outlets are still selling sugar at a very high price. The factories are working now, supplies will be sent to the regions. I think everything will be fine,” Abildabekov said.

The representative of the department announced measures to prevent further growth in food prices, namely - to modernize food markets, provide priority access to commodity places for domestic producers, and track the entire chain of intermediaries from the manufacturer to the outlet.

“We have a limit on exports of potatoes, oil and breeding stock of cattle and small cattle. The Government also issued a ban on exports of sugar and grains to reduce the increase in prices of these products. We, as part of this world, will be also affected by this. Our task is to contain the rise in prices,” the deputy minister added.

World food prices hit an all-time high in March this year. The prices increased by 30 percent in annual terms.

 

Translation by Saniya Sakenova

Editing by Saule Mukhamejanova