Kyrgyzstan's Livestock Exports Decline as Imports Surge

Kyrgyzstan's foreign trade in livestock and animal products is undergoing a notable shift. In the first five months of 2026, the country saw a significant rise in its purchases of livestock and poultry from abroad, while its export of these goods declined.

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The overall export of live animals in January-May 2026 amounted to 847.1 thousand dollars, a decrease of 9.3 percent compared to the five months of last year.

Overall exports of live animals dropped by 9.3% compared to the same period last year, reaching $847,100. Cattle remain the primary source of export revenue, with 9,468 heads sold to Uzbekistan for $2.1 million. However, the physical volume of these exports fell by 15.7%. Kyrgyzstan maintains a ban on the free export of cattle, with sales restricted to special quotas. Live horse, donkey, and mule exports amounted to 194 heads, primarily to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

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The most significant increase was recorded in the domestic poultry segment: 765 thousand 169 heads were imported into the country for 1 million 363.2 thousand dollars.

In contrast, imports of live animals and poultry increased by 2.8% to $5.4 million. The most substantial growth was observed in the poultry sector, with 765,169 birds imported for $1.36 million, a 53.1% increase in value. Hungary and Russia are the main suppliers of poultry. Imports of live cattle reached 4,709 heads, valued at $1.16 million, mainly from Russia and Kazakhstan. The import of pigs also saw a significant increase, with 2,587 heads arriving from Kazakhstan for $483,000, a 2.4-fold rise from the previous year.

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In terms of value, poultry imports soared by 53.1 percent.