Kazakhstan Boosts Chocolate Imports from Russia to Reach $118.3 Million by Mid-2025
In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan's imports of chocolate from Russia have seen a significant increase in monetary value, reaching approximately $118.3 million, despite a slight decrease in volume by 1,000 tons to 28,000 tons. This trend suggests a rise in the price per ton of Russian chocolate imports.
The increase in import value from Russia can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, price inflation of chocolate and cocoa products has caused total import costs to rise, even as the volume slightly decreased. Secondly, Kazakhstan's continued reliance on Russia as its largest and main supplier of chocolate products, supported by the Eurasian Economic Union preferential trade ties, facilitates easier imports from Russia. Lastly, it is possible that increased demand or market shifts toward higher-quality or premium Russian chocolate brands, or cost increases in production and logistics in Russia, have contributed to the value-volume divergence.
This substantial increase in import costs, with stable or falling volume, has likely contributed to upward pressure on retail chocolate prices in the Kazakh market in 2025. The trend of increased spending with fewer imported tons suggests inflationary pressures in the chocolate retail segment.
Major Russian chocolate manufacturers exporting to Kazakhstan, such as Красный Октябрь, Бабаевский, and other well-known Russian confectionery brands, are likely the key players whose price changes influence the market. While the exact brands affected are not listed, Russia dominates both volume and value, making Russian brands the chief influencers of Kazakhstan's chocolate retail sector.
X5 Retail Group, which manages Russia's largest retail chains "Pyaterochka" and "Perekrestok," has replaced Mars products with cheaper alternatives due to "unfair pricing." Meanwhile, Mars has announced a price increase for some of their cocoa products. No similar announcements of price increases or product halts have been made for Mondelez products as of yet.
In summary, the rise in Kazakhstan's chocolate import spending on Russia in 2025 is primarily due to rising prices, not increased volume. This has led to higher retail chocolate prices, particularly influencing those brands sourced from Russian manufacturers. The exact impact of these decisions on overall chocolate imports from Russia to Kazakhstan remains to be seen.
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