Which countries do Kazakhstani shoppers buy mandarins from in stores?

The value of imports over the first ten months of this year has approached 32.8 million US dollars. The main suppliers of New Year attributes have been China, Pakistan, and Turkey, reports IA "NewTimes.kz".

According to Energyprom, during the first nine months of this year, Kazakhstan imported 51.4 thousand tons of mandarins and various citrus hybrids, including tangerines, satsumas, clementines, wilkings, etc. By the end of 2024, the import of mandarins into Kazakhstan is expected to exceed last year's figures. In 2023, over 107.8 thousand tons of these citrus fruits were imported into Kazakhstan. In terms of finances, Kazakhs spent around 32.8 million US dollars on mandarins. Compared to the same period last year, the country has increased its "mandarin account" by 36.2%. This growth is solely attributed to the increase in supply volumes in physical terms. The estimated cost per ton of imported mandarins has remained at last year's level.

The primary importers remain China (which holds a 53.6% share of this product's supply), Pakistan, where 16.4 thousand tons of mandarins were delivered to Kazakhstan over nine months, accounting for 32%, and Turkey. However, shipments from Turkey are significantly lower than those from China and Pakistan, totaling 4.9 thousand tons from January to September of this year. The share of imports from Morocco, known for its mandarins sold by market traders, is negligible, comprising only 0.3% of the total supply volume to Kazakhstan.

One of the reasons Kazakhstan has been increasing its mandarin imports since 2022 is the rising consumption within the country. This can be traced through the results of selective surveys conducted quarterly by BNS specialists. The infographic shows that over the past year—from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024—consumption of these orange fruits has grown each quarter. The highest consumption levels were naturally observed in the first and fourth quarters. For instance, from January to March of this year, residents of Kazakhstan consumed an average of 2.1 kg of these citrus fruits per quarter (up 16.6% compared to the same period in 2023). In the last quarter of the previous year, each Kazakhstani consumed an average of 1.5 kg of mandarins, which is 52.5% more than the previous year.