Tengrinews.kz — Cigarette prices are set to rise again in Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Finance has published a draft order outlining plans to increase the minimum retail prices for tobacco products. The document has been released for public comment on the portal "Open NPA" (Open Legal Acts) portal.
The draft proposes increasing minimum retail prices for filtered and unfiltered cigarettes, papirosy, cigarillos, and heated tobacco products.
The current minimum retail price for a pack of 20 cigarettes is 970 tenge. The Ministry of Finance has proposed increasing the minimum price. If the draft order is adopted, retailers will be prohibited from selling tobacco products below the established minimum price.
As explained by the Ministry of Finance, the increase in minimum prices is necessary to implement a balanced tax and pricing policy for tobacco products. Furthermore, it is expected that this measure will help reduce tobacco consumption, increase budget revenues, and decrease the share of the shadow economy.
The draft order will remain under public discussion until July 20. After this, the document may be adopted and take effect.
As a reminder, earlier this year, Kazakhstan already increased minimum retail prices for cigarettes. At that time, they were set at 970 tenge.
From July 1 to December 31, 2025, the minimum cost of cigarettes was 920 tenge.