Kazakhstan has turned from a net exporter to a net importer of beef, but in contrast to the milk sector, imports play a minor role in beef supply, with the country’s self-sufficiency ratio in beef at around 95% over the past two decades. Imports are mostly frozen beef from Argentina, Australia and Poland. Imported frozen beef is utilised by processing plants for sausage products and prepared foods, and is preferred due to its stable high quality and lower cost compared to fresh or chilled meat.