Kazakhstan to cut sugar imports by a third in five years - dep minister

NUR-SULTAN. Aug 29 (Kazakhstan) - Kazakhstan plans to boost domestic sugar production and reduce imports by roughly a third by 2026, Deputy Agriculture Minister Abilkhayr Tamabek said.

"The sugar industry plan provides for increasing sugar production from domestic feedstock to 250,000 tonnes a year in the next five years. The share of imports will be lowered from 58% to 17% by 2026, compared to 2021, while the share of domestic sugar beet will increase from 7% to 43%," Tamabek said at a government meeting on Saturday.

Total investment in the growth of sugar beet production is estimated at 495 billion tenge.

"The subsidies for equipment may reach 168 billion tenge, including 39.3 billion tenge for fixed capital and working capital investment," he said.

Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said that area under sugar beet would billion rubles expanded by 200% from 11,500 to 38,000 hectares. Sugar refineries also need extensive modernization and expansion.