Why Markets Are Closing in Kazakhstan, According to the Ministry

The decline in the number of trade markets in Kazakhstan at the end of 2025 was linked to several factors, most of which the Ministry of Trade and Integration described as objective, in response to an Orda.kz request.

According to the ministry, the reasons for the decline lie in the “transformation of trade infrastructure” and the “implementation of modernization policies.” Some markets, after modernization, changed their status and were re-registered as trading houses, shopping centers and other formats.

Some operators stopped working for what the ministry described as objective reasons, including their location in protected natural areas and outside the “red lines” defined by the authorities. More broadly, Kazakhstan’s trade sector is shifting toward modern retail formats, the ministry said.

At the same time, the state is accommodating market owners who are seeking to modernize and continue operating under the rules. Initially, the ministry had set the end of 2025 as the deadline for the modernization of all markets operating in Kazakhstan. Those that failed to meet it were supposed to stop working. Trade Minister Arman Shakkaliyev also stated this publicly. In its response to Orda.kz, the ministry said the measure was necessary to ensure minimum safety and quality standards. But in January, the deadline was extended by one year, until December 31, 2026.

Modernization work has not yet begun at 19 facilities. The ministry says their owners have not prepared the necessary documents, have not found financing, or simply do not want to operate under the law. Regional akimats are expected to prepare additional roadmaps for them. Modernization has already been fully completed at 33 markets, while work is ongoing at another 39.

Nine markets have stopped operating and have been removed from all plans and roadmaps. Six of them changed format, while the remaining three had to close because they were located in protected natural areas.

The ministry has also set a broader goal: to raise the share of modern large-format markets to 70% by 2029. It describes this task as “a broader strategic benchmark for the development of modern trade formats.”

According to the Bureau of National Statistics, at the end of 2025 there were 626 markets in Kazakhstan, compared with 588 at the beginning of the same year. The highest number, 103, was recorded in the Turkestan region.

Original author: Alexey Afonsky

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