Kazakhstan plans to cap prices on some staple foods in 2026

ASTANA. Jan 19 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's government plans to sign agreements with domestic producers to cap wholesale prices on staple foods, including cooking oil, chicken, eggs, potatoes and salt, the cabinet's press service said.

The Trade and Integration Ministry is finalizing a memorandum with the National Association of Oilseed Processors to set a ceiling on vegetable oil prices this year. "It is also negotiating similar agreements with producers of eggs, chicken, salt and potatoes," the press release following a meeting on inflation stabilization said.

Officials noted continued price increases since January for sunflower oil, butter and curd cheese, blaming the rise mainly on imports and global market pressures.

Citing U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization data, the government said the global vegetable oil price index averaged 161.6 points in 2025, a 17.1% annual increase and a three-year high, due to tight international supply.

First Deputy Trade and Integration Minister Aizhan Bizhanova said an updated list of 33 price-controlled staple foods, active since January 4, has helped reduce annual food price inflation to 0.2% this year, compared to 0.7% in the same period last year. The expanded list is temporary and will be phased back to 19 basic items as markets stabilize.

Potato prices currently remain at 150-170 tenge per kilogram under an existing pact. To ease further pressure, regional authorities have begun releasing vegetables from state reserves, and early-harvest imports from neighboring countries are planned starting in March.