Kazakhstan: Pavlodar Farm-Gate Potato Prices Drop to 80–110 Tenge/kg as Union Expects 3.3 Mt Crop
Farm-gate potato prices in Pavlodar fell to 80-110 tenge/kg and some farmers sell below cost, while the growers' union expects about 3.3 Mt against demand of about 2 Mt.
Farm-gate potato prices in Kazakhstan’s main northern growing region, Pavlodar, have fallen to 80 to 110 tenge per kilogram, and some farmers are selling below production cost, the state news agency Kazinform reported on 27 September 2026. A separate market review published by APK-News on 21 September, with data as of 18 September, gave a Pavlodar farm-gate range of 90 to 110 tenge per kilogram.
Regional prices
The APK-News review, prepared by the research bureau Grains and Oilseeds Kazakhstan, listed these wholesale ranges in tenge per kilogram on 18 September:
- Almaty region: 190 to 290
- Astana and Akmola region: 180 to 250, farm-gate 130 to 150
- Kostanay region: 150 to 250, farm-gate 130 to 140
- North Kazakhstan region: 150 to 200
- Pavlodar region: 115 to 200, farm-gate 90 to 110
The bureau described a base wholesale corridor of 100 to 150 tenge per kilogram.
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Large crop, lower imports
According to Kazinform, farms had harvested 1.89 million tonnes from 74,000 hectares by 11 September, with an average yield of 255.5 centners per hectare. A year earlier, at the same date, the figures were 1.576 million tonnes from 64,900 hectares at 242.8 centners per hectare. The Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers expects a total harvest of about 3.3 million tonnes, while the country needs about 2 million tonnes a year. Union chairman Baizhan Ualkhanov told the agency that there will be more than enough potatoes.
Imports in January to June 2026 were 54,700 tonnes, 69% less than a year earlier. The main suppliers were China, Pakistan, Russia and Iran. Kazinform also reported a 6.9% fall in prices in the week to 9 September. The agency named limited storage as the reason why some farmers must sell early.
Why it matters
A crop of about 3.3 million tonnes against domestic demand of about 2 million tonnes leaves a large surplus. Prices in the north, where most commercial potatoes grow, are already near or below cost. Farmers who can store will wait for higher prices in winter and spring. Farmers without storage must sell now.
The price gap between Pavlodar at the farm gate and Almaty at wholesale is wide. This creates room for traders who move potatoes from north to south, and for exporters to neighbouring countries. For buyers in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, Kazakh potatoes should remain competitive this season.
Photo: The Irtysh river at Pavlodar, Kazakhstan (illustrative). Zac allan (talk) / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
