Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormBotanical extract (liquorice root extract; thick/paste or dry extract)
Industry PositionBotanical ingredient for food, cosmetics, and healthcare/pharmaceutical applications
Market
Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) is commercially sourced in Kazakhstan, with major collection/production areas in southern regions and the Ural River floodplain area, and a trade history centered on wild-harvested root. A substantial portion of Kazakhstan’s liquorice harvest has been exported unprocessed, feeding downstream processing and re-export in importing countries. Kazakhstan also has domestic extraction capability (e.g., Licorice Kazakhstan) using controlled extraction and vacuum evaporation to produce liquorice extracts. The most binding issue for this product-country pair is the sustainability and legality of wild harvesting outside tightly regulated forest-fund lands, which elevates the risk of policy tightening and buyer-driven traceability demands.
Market RoleProducer and exporter (wild-harvested and cultivated raw material; partially processed into extract domestically)
Domestic RoleIndustrial ingredient supply for domestic processors and for export-oriented trade
Specification
Primary VarietyGlycyrrhiza glabra (common liquorice)
Compositional Metrics- Glycyrrhizin/glycyrrhizic acid content is a key standardization marker; Kazakhstan research and standardization work references HPLC-based quantification.
- Moisture content is referenced as a quality-control parameter for dry extracts in Kazakhstan-focused processing studies.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Wild collection / plantation cultivation → root cleaning and drying → extraction (water or hydroalcoholic; technology may include ultrasound-assisted extraction in research settings) → filtration/separation → vacuum evaporation at reduced temperature → (optional) drying to powder → packaging → export shipment
Temperature- Vacuum evaporation at reduced temperatures is used by at least one Kazakhstan processor to preserve biological activity of active ingredients.
Freight IntensityLow
Transport ModeLand
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighUnsustainable and poorly monitored wild harvesting outside state forestry fund lands is a documented issue for Kazakhstan-sourced liquorice; this can trigger policy tightening (including potential export limitations) and immediate buyer rejection if legality and sustainable-of-take cannot be evidenced.Prioritize plantation-sourced or fully permitted wild-sourced supply; maintain harvest permits/notifications and resource-survey evidence; implement third-party sustainable wild-collection frameworks (e.g., FairWild) and buyer-auditable chain-of-custody.
Sustainability MediumDocumented export volumes of wild liquorice root have exceeded recommended sustainable harvest volumes in at least one Kazakhstan region/year, indicating depletion risk and long-term supply uncertainty for extract processors relying on wild feedstock.Use conservative-of-take limits backed by resource surveys; invest in cultivation/plantations and habitat management; diversify sourcing regions within Kazakhstan.
Food Safety MediumFor food/food-additive applications, non-conformance in required inspection/laboratory examination or technical-regulation conformity assessment can delay clearance or restrict marketability of liquorice extract shipments.Align specifications to intended end-use (food vs. healthcare/pharma); maintain batch-level test documentation (e.g., glycyrrhizin assay and relevant safety parameters) and importer-required conformity files.
Logistics MediumKazakhstan’s landlocked export routing can increase exposure to border delays and inland freight constraints, which may disrupt delivery schedules for ingredient buyers operating on production planning cycles.Contract buffer lead times, use multimodal contingency routes where feasible, and stage inventory closer to destination markets when supply continuity is critical.
Sustainability- High sustainability risk of overharvesting and impaired natural regeneration from uncontrolled wild collection in areas outside the state forestry fund; sustainability of the resource base is a central buyer and policy concern.
- FairWild Standard is referenced in Kazakhstan-focused stakeholder work as a voluntary best-practice framework for sustainable wild harvesting and trade.
Labor & Social- Elevated informal/illegal collection risk where sourcing occurs outside regulated forest-fund lands; this can create audit vulnerabilities around legality documentation and collector livelihoods.
- Collector communities can be economically dependent on wild plant trade; sustainability interventions (e.g., FairWild premium mechanisms) are discussed as a way to align livelihoods with conservation outcomes.
FAQ
What is the biggest trade-blocking risk for Kazakhstan-sourced liquorice root extract?The biggest risk is sustainability and legality of wild harvesting, especially outside state forestry fund lands where monitoring and control are limited. TRAFFIC documented that liquorice root exports from South Kazakhstan in 2015 exceeded a recommended sustainable volume, and highlighted that uncontrolled harvest threatens natural regeneration and can prompt tighter controls or buyer rejection if legality and traceability cannot be proven.
Which liquorice species are commonly associated with Kazakhstan sourcing and trade?Kazakhstan sourcing and trade commonly involve two species: Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis. These are cited by TRAFFIC as among the most valuable medicinal herb species growing in Kazakhstan, and Kazakhstan-focused medicinal-plant literature also references Glycyrrhiza glabra as widespread in the country.
What processing and quality-control practices are referenced by Kazakhstan sources for liquorice extracts?A Kazakhstan processor (Licorice Kazakhstan) describes controlled extraction and vacuum evaporation at reduced temperatures, alongside industrial hygiene features such as CIP cleaning and purified water systems. Kazakhstan-focused pharmaceutical-technology studies also describe methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction and the use of HPLC to quantify glycyrrhizin and support extract standardization.