ASTANA — People in Kazakhstan consumed an average of 1.5 kilograms of sugar per person per month in 2025, a level that has barely changed since 2023, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. But while household consumption has remained stable, domestic production has fallen sharply, leaving imports to supply most of the market.
Average per capita consumption of granulated sugar stood at 1.5 kilograms per month in 2023, dipped slightly to 1.4 kilograms in 2024, and returned to 1.5 kilograms in 2025. It remained at the same level in the first quarter of 2026. During that quarter, Kazakhstan’s sugar factories produced 9,500 tons, down from 64,600 tons in the same period of 2025, a nearly sevenfold decline, according to data from the bureau.
The share of domestic production in the country’s total sugar resources fell from 28.2% to 7.1%, while imports accounted for 92.9%. The figures highlight the dual challenge facing Kazakhstan: addressing the health effects of excessive sugar intake while reducing the country’s heavy dependence on imported supplies.
Global sugar consumption projected to grow Kazakhstan’s growing reliance on imports comes as global sugar demand is projected to rise, particularly in developing economies. According to the Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global sugar consumption is projected to grow by 1.2% annually, reaching 202 million metric tons by 2034.
Most of that growth is expected to come from developing economies, with Asia and Africa accounting for the majority of additional demand. Source: OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026-2035 The report attributes the increase to population growth, urbanization and changing dietary patterns.
At the same time, consumption in many high-income countries is expected to remain stable or decline as governments implement nutrition policies and consumers increasingly seek healthier diets. Granulated sugar recorded in household consumption represents only one part of overall sugar intake.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that free sugars account for less than 10% of total daily energy intake for both adults and children. Free sugars include those added to foods and drinks by manufacturers, cooks or consumers, as well as sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices.
The organization also recommends limiting sugar intake to 5% or less for additional health benefits. Because directly comparable data on total sugar intake are limited, public health agencies also track related indicators, including obesity and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, though obesity has multiple causes.
Laura Utemissova, national public health program coordinator at the WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan