JSC "SPK 'Ertis'" denies the existence of a potato shortage in the East Kazakhstan region, as reported by the Kapital.kz business information center citing the press service of the regional akimat.
"Several media outlets and social networks continue to publish articles regarding potato prices, actively discussing the availability or lack thereof, as well as the price or quality of the product. However, official data indicates that there are no issues with supplies. The excitement is solely due to the price difference between market value and the price set under the stabilization program," stated the local executive body.
The released information emphasizes that JSC "SPK 'Ertis'" is committed to implementing the price stabilization program, supplying socially significant fruit and vegetable products to trade pavilions, including potatoes. Currently, the prices of socially significant fruit and vegetable products remain stable: potatoes, carrots, and cabbage are priced at 125 tenge/kg, while onions are at 130 tenge/kg.
Under the existing contract with LLP ORC 'Altai', 5,500 tons of potatoes have been contracted from November 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025. As of today, the remaining stock is 2,544 tons — more than sufficient until the contract concludes. During the inter-season (June, July), a new contract for early fruit and vegetable products is traditionally established.
It is worth noting that in addition to potatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbage have also been included in the price stabilization program for socially significant food products (SSFP). Contracted volumes include: carrots — 1,300 tons, onions — 900 tons, cabbage — 1,350 tons.
"The price stabilization program continues to operate as usual. Products are delivered daily to all 17 SPK trade pavilions according to the sellers' requests. However, it is important to understand that these retail points are not initially designed for wholesale volumes. Potatoes are sold in retail to prevent speculation — they are not released in bulk. Each pavilion receives the volume of potatoes requested by the sellers daily. Additionally, around 30 stores in the city, under a memorandum with JSC 'SPK 'Ertis'', sell these four types of socially significant fruit and vegetable products at the same price as in the corporation's pavilions. To avoid speculation in trade pavilions and partner stores, products are not sold in bulk to a single buyer," the akimat reports.
Experts note that the main reason for the excitement in the east is not a potato shortage, but a significant price gap. In SPK trade pavilions, prices are considerably lower than the market — 125 tenge per kilogram, while in wholesale markets, prices range from 250 to 350 tenge/kg, which leads to increased demand. However, as practice shows, this is a temporary phenomenon related to seasonal price fluctuations in the market. Similar situations have been observed in various years with sugar, buckwheat, eggs, and other products, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reminded.
"It is important to note that when signing the contract, specialists relied on the experience of previous years, and the decision of the 'East Kazakhstan Regional Commission for the Implementation of Price Stabilization Mechanisms for Socially Significant Food Products' retained the same volume and price of products as in previous years, despite rising prices and inflation. Today, the price gap between social potatoes and market prices creates excitement. Potatoes priced at 125 tenge/kg are the most attractive price in the region, which is why the supplied volume sells out faster than usual. When the purchase price and production cost of potatoes have increased across all regions, the product at social pricing has become necessary for everyone, including large wholesale commercial markets. However, it is crucial to understand that JSC 'SPK 'Ertis'' prohibits imposing large markups on socially significant food products as per the Commission's decision. For stores cooperating under the memorandum, potatoes serve not as a source of profit but as a part of the assortment that attracts customers," the akimat reports.
SPK specialists emphasize: the mission of the price stabilization program is not to create competition for existing entrepreneurs or to monopolize the market, but to stabilize prices during fluctuations and ensure the availability of socially significant products in their own trade pavilions.
"Right now, the most important task is to ensure the availability of potatoes for ordinary residents and to convey information about the price stability within the program implemented by the state corporation. Delivery is carried out based on agreements between SPK and ORC 'Altai'. In turn, ORC has signed a contract for 2024–2025 with LLP 'Agrofirma 'Prirechnoe''. Thus, the current potatoes are delivered from the Abay region. Given the distance and weather conditions, to avoid freezing during the winter period, delivery by open heavy-duty transport is not conducted. In the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, 1–2 compact cargo vehicles with temperature control and ventilation, with a capacity of 5–10 tons, arrive daily. The pavilions, covering an area of 18 square meters, where other products are also presented alongside potatoes, do not allow them to be filled solely with potatoes. The guaranteed component of the price stabilization program is the availability of potatoes throughout the contract season (until mid-May of the current year) and the stability of the fixed price, which is ensured by the responsible department," the local government agency notes.
JSC "SPK 'Ertis'" assures that there will be no disruption in fulfilling contractual obligations regarding the timing of the price stabilization program, as supplies are made daily, and the stocks under current contracts are sufficient.
It is worth recalling that earlier the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan reported that since the beginning of 2025, the Department of Trade and Consumer Protection in the Kostanay region has conducted 10 regional commissions to identify unproductive intermediaries, during which 29 entrepreneurs were found to have violated the 15% trading markup on SSFP. Among them, 7 are engaged in potato trading: one was fined, and six received warnings, the ministry reported.