The Department of Economic Investigations in Aktobe conducted an analysis of an electronic invoice from an individual entrepreneur and identified risks of inflated trade markups on socially significant goods. The case was referred to the regional Department of Trade and Consumer Protection, as reported by a correspondent from the business information center Kapital.kz, citing the press service of the Trade Committee.
"The individual entrepreneur purchased 75 kg of buckwheat from LLP 'Zhazyk Group' at a price of 16,450 tenge, with the price per kg ranging from 205 to 248 tenge. Following this, he sold the buckwheat to kindergartens with a markup of between 109% and 450%. For instance, the entrepreneur supplied 28 kg of buckwheat to kindergarten No. 42 'Ainalaiyn' in Aktobe at a price of 12,992 tenge, or 519 tenge per kilogram, resulting in a trade markup of 109.2%. Then, 56 kg of the same product was delivered to kindergarten No. 17 'Shugyla' at a price of 16,192 tenge, leading to a markup of 135.8%," the statement indicated.
Subsequently, the entrepreneur sold 35 kg of buckwheat to LLP 'Sauber', which then resold the product to kindergartens. As a result, the markup on buckwheat increased to 447%, with the price per kilogram reaching 1,356 tenge.
"According to Article 204-4 of the Administrative Offenses Code, the trade markup on socially significant food items should not exceed 15%. Due to significant overpricing, the entrepreneur received a warning regarding the markup on buckwheat. LLP 'Sauber' was deemed an unproductive intermediary by the regional commission's decision," the committee explained.