Kazakhstan exported 6.4 thousand tonnes of ice cream worth $24.8 million in January–April 2026. Compared with the same period of 2025, exports increased by 46.4% in volume and by 77% in value.
The result is important not only for the dairy sector, but also for logistics. Ice cream is a temperature-sensitive product, so export growth depends on more than production capacity. It requires stable cold storage, reliable refrigerated transport, predictable border procedures and strong distribution links with neighbouring markets.
At the same time, Kazakhstan imported 3.4 thousand tonnes of ice cream worth $12.9 million in the same period. This means the country remained a net exporter in the category, with export volumes exceeding imports by about 2.9 thousand tonnes.
As K2Cargo News previously reported in EDB and Griffin Partners to Build $125 Million Logistics Park in Almaty, Kazakhstan is investing in logistics infrastructure that can support trade flows, warehousing and regional distribution. For products such as ice cream, this type of infrastructure is especially important.
CIS Markets Drive the Growth
Almost all Kazakhstan’s ice cream exports go to CIS countries.
Russia remains the main buyer. In the first four months of 2026, Kazakhstan shipped 4.3 thousand tonnes of ice cream to the Russian market. Exports also increased significantly to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, with growth of 68.4% and 27.7%, respectively.
This shows that Kazakhstan’s ice cream industry is building its export strength primarily in nearby markets. Geography matters: shorter distances make it easier to maintain temperature control and reduce transport risks.
For frozen products, every additional border, delay or long route can raise costs and increase the risk of temperature deviations. Regional export growth therefore points to a practical advantage: Kazakhstan can serve neighbouring markets faster than more distant suppliers.
Production Is Expanding
The export increase is supported by higher domestic production.
In January–May 2026, Kazakhstan produced 35.1 thousand tonnes of ice cream. Almaty Region accounted for the largest share, with 23.3 thousand tonnes, or 66.3% of national output. Other important production centres included Turkestan Region, the city of Almaty and Akmola Region.
The main product categories were cream ice cream and plombir. Together, they accounted for more than 80% of total production in the first five months of the year.
The sector entered 2026 from a strong base. In 2025, Kazakhstan produced 63.2 thousand tonnes of ice cream, a record level and a major increase from the previous year. This indicates that the current export growth is not a short-term anomaly, but part of a broader expansion of the domestic industry.
Imports Still Remain Important
Despite stronger exports, Kazakhstan continues to import ice cream.
From January to April 2026, imports reached 3.4 thousand tonnes worth $12.9 million, up 10.1% year-on-year. The main suppliers were Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Türkiye.
This shows that the domestic market remains diverse. Imported products may compete in certain price segments, formats, brands or premium categories, while Kazakhstan’s producers expand both at home and abroad.
For logistics companies, this creates two-way refrigerated flows. Trucks and cold-chain operators may carry imported products into Kazakhstan while also moving domestic ice cream to neighbouring countries. This can improve fleet utilisation if routes are planned effectively.
Cold Chain Becomes a Strategic Factor
Ice cream exports require a high-quality cold chain.
The product must remain frozen throughout storage, loading, transport and delivery. Any failure in temperature control can damage quality, lead to cargo claims and reduce trust among distributors.
This makes logistics a decisive part of the sector’s competitiveness. Producers need refrigerated warehouses, insulated loading areas, reliable reefer trucks, temperature monitoring and fast border handling.
As export volumes grow, the pressure on cold-chain infrastructure will also increase. Companies that can guarantee stable temperature control will have an advantage in regional trade. Those that cannot may struggle to serve demanding customers.
More Than a Seasonal Product
Ice cream is often seen as a seasonal consumer product, but the latest figures show that it is also becoming an export category for Kazakhstan.
The growth in value is especially notable. Export revenue rose faster than physical volume, which may indicate stronger pricing, changes in product mix or higher demand for Kazakh brands in neighbouring markets.
If this trend continues, Kazakhstan’s producers may have room to develop more premium products, expand distribution and strengthen their position in supermarket chains and wholesale networks abroad.
However, growth will also bring challenges. Producers will need stable supplies of milk and ingredients, competitive packaging, quality certification and logistics capacity. Export success will depend not only on making more ice cream, but on delivering it reliably.
A Positive Signal for Food Logistics
Kazakhstan’s ice cream export growth is a positive signal for the broader food logistics sector.
It shows that the country can compete in temperature-controlled food exports, not only in traditional raw materials or grain. It also highlights the role of nearby markets, where geography and cold-chain reliability can become major advantages.
For Kazakhstan, the next step is to turn rapid growth into stable export capacity. That means strengthening production, expanding cold storage, improving refrigerated transport and maintaining quality across the entire delivery chain.
If producers and logistics companies can do that, ice cream may become a small but visible example of how Kazakhstan is moving from raw commodity exports toward higher-value processed food trade.
Read also: EDB and Griffin Partners to Build $125 Million Logistics Park in Almaty
