Kyrgyzstan Moves to Control Meat Prices with Export Suspension

Kyrgyzstan temporarily suspended livestock exports in a bid to curb rising meat prices on the domestic market. The measure has resulted in a significant reduction in export volumes, The Caspian Post reports, citing The Times of Central Asia.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, between January and mid-August 2025, Kyrgyzstan exported 30,493 cattle, 31,781 sheep and goats, and 1,636 horses. This marks a sharp decline compared to the same period in 2024, when the country exported 77,907 cattle, 70,392 sheep and goats, and 5,113 horses.

Kyrgyz livestock is primarily exported to neighboring Central Asian countries.

Officials say the suspension has helped prevent meat shortages and price surges domestically. To further bolster local meat production and supply, the ministry has proposed extending the export ban for an additional six months.

In the first half of 2025, Kyrgyzstan produced 115,400 tons of meat, an increase of 3,900 tons compared to the same period in 2024. However, demand continues to outpace supply. National meat consumption stood at 309,400 tons in 2024 and reached 157,300 tons in the first half of 2025.

In 2024, Kyrgyzstan met 86.2% of domestic meat demand through local production. That figure dropped to 79.7% in the first half of 2025, underscoring the country’s ongoing reliance on imports to bridge the supply gap.

To contain prices, the government implemented temporary state control over retail meat prices beginning August 11. For a 90-day period, the price of beef and mutton has been capped at 700 Kyrgyz soms ($8) per kilogram.