Kazakhstan Potato Producers Partner to Boost Processing
The agreement allows international processors to integrate supply chains and increase the export value of raw potato crops.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Agriculture
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Kazakhstan has partnered with Belgium to modernize its potato production and processing capabilities. The agreement aims to increase the value-added output of the crop as domestic production continues to outpace local demand.
Why it matters
By adopting the Belgian agro-industrial cluster model, Kazakhstan seeks to shift from raw exports to higher-value processed potato products. This strategy aims to better leverage the country's surplus harvest, which reached 2.5 million tonnes in the latest report.
Kazakhstan produced 2.5 million tonnes of potatoes in the latest report, exceeding the 2 million tonnes needed for domestic demand. The 2026 harvest is projected to reach 2.8 million tonnes, with export potential estimated at 400,000 tonnes compared to 388,000 tonnes in 2025.
The players
Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers of Kazakhstan
An industry trade association representing growers and focused on national agricultural development.
Eurasian Group AG
A multinational corporation involved in the trade and industrial operations connected to the agreement.
DeWulf NV
A Belgian manufacturer specializing in agricultural machinery for harvesting and processing root crops.
The details
The collaboration integrates producers, research, and seed companies using the Belgian cluster model to streamline supply chains. By establishing this framework for agricultural technology and investment, participants intend to expand capacity for value-added goods. Currently, potato prices in the Karaganda and Pavlodar regions are holding between 90,000 and 100,000 tenge per tonne.
Timeline
2025: Kazakhstan exported 388,000 tonnes of potatoes.
2026: The total potato harvest is projected to reach 2.8 million tonnes.
October 21, 2026: The memorandum was signed during a business council meeting in Astana.
Market Landscape
The partnership adopts the Belgian agro-industrial cluster model to centralize production and processing resources. This transition mirrors the integration strategies often seen under the European Union's agricultural frameworks to improve market efficiency.
Operators in the potato supply chain should track the rollout of new processing infrastructure as a signal for potential shifts in local export capacity. Monitor regional price trends in Karaganda and Pavlodar as indicators of how expanded processing capability impacts raw crop valuation.
The takeaway
The move toward vertical integration highlights a strategic shift from raw commodity exports to processed value-added products. Business owners should monitor future reports from the Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers of Kazakhstan for updates on processing facility construction timelines.
Further reading
For broader trends in global agricultural development, see our Agriculture section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PotatoPro.
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