“Non-essential“ products may become more expensive in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz - The Ministry of Trade and Integration does not rule out price increases for some types of products.

As reported by the Ministry in response to an official request from the editorial board of Tengrinews.kz, trade entities in our country independently determine prices for goods. The exception is cases when akimats introduce maximum prices for socially significant food products for a period of no more than 90 calendar days.

"Every year in November-December, after harvesting vegetables and fruits, prices go up, especially on the eve of the New Year holidays, regardless of the dollar exchange rate. This is primarily due to the fact that farmers put their harvest in vegetable and fruit storage facilities, where they bear the costs of loading for transport, transportation to the storage site, unloading, warehousing and directly for the storage itself. Therefore, the prices of products in the field and in the warehouse are different," the Ministry of Trade explained.

The Ministry did not rule out an increase in the price of some "non-essential" products.

"Regarding the impact of the dollar exchange rate on food products, new deliveries of some fruits, citrus fruits and other food products in the case of new deliveries purchased for foreign currency, we do not rule out a possible increase in price, but these are not essential products, such as bananas, pomegranates, some varieties of grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits and other exotic products," the report says.

To prevent sharp fluctuations and price increases before the New Year, agricultural fairs will be held in cities and regions of the country, where the population will be able to purchase products directly from farmers.

Earlier, the Chairman of the National Bank Timur Suleimenov urged Kazakhstanis to look at the dollar exchange rate "through the glasses of a mathematician."

In addition, in October, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin was asked about how the government plans to curb the rise in food prices in connection with the rise in the dollar.