Lamb prices in Kazakhstan have recorded their sharpest weekly increase of the year, raising concerns that the cost of the popular meat could be on track for its biggest monthly jump in more than a decade.

Lamb prices rose by 2.5% between May 20 and May 26. The increase matches the total price growth seen during the entire month of April and marks the largest weekly rise since lamb was added to the country's list of socially significant food products in January 2026, The Caspian Post reports via Kazpravda.kz.

Analysts note that such a steep increase is unusual even on a monthly basis. Since 2011, similar spikes have occurred only rarely. Overall, lamb prices have climbed 4.7% since the beginning of May, and if the current trend continues, monthly growth could reach its highest level in at least 15 years.

The surge comes as beef prices have largely stabilized. Over the same week, bone-in beef rose by just 0.2%, while boneless beef prices remained unchanged. In April, beef prices increased by 1.5%, following three months of minimal movement.

Experts believe the slowdown in beef price growth may be linked to export restrictions introduced at the start of 2026. Kazakhstan imposed export quotas on beef producers after strong overseas demand contributed to soaring prices in 2025.

The impact appears visible in trade data. Beef exports fell by 33% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, while lamb exports moved in the opposite direction, jumping 59% compared with the same period last year.

Unlike beef, lamb exports have not been subject to major restrictions. As a result, overseas shipments continued to expand rapidly, following nearly a twofold increase recorded in 2025.

Neighboring Uzbekistan remains the dominant buyer of Kazakh lamb, accounting for 99% of export volumes in 2026.