Uzbekistan Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in uzbekistan, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Food Processing
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Overview

Uzbekistan seeks to increase production and exports of high value-added food products. The country’s food processing industry has substantial room to grow, given current capacity limitations. As of 2023, only 15% of the 20 million tons of fruits and vegetables grown each year were being processed for longer shelf life, while 30% was lost due to insufficient storage and processing capacity. Only 16% of meat and milk was processed.  Uzbekistan set a target of increasing food production to 7.4 million tons and increasing the processing of milk (32%), meat (25%), and fruits and vegetables (28%) by 2026. The country will implement $40.5 million worth of investment projects for the production of packaging for 2.1 million tons of fruit and vegetable products in the regions in 2025. 

In 2021, the government approved a list of 676 types of technological equipment (including several models of food processing equipment) to be exempted from customs tax and VAT when imported into the country. As of 2024, available refrigerated warehouse capacity for agricultural and food products was 1.3 million tons, which represented only 5.4 percent of the total volume of cultivated products. The government aims to increase the capacity to 1.9 million tons or 7 percent of the total volume of products by 2027. The government’s current development plan calls for adding 3.4 million tons of processing capacity by 2030, which would account for 30% of the Uzbekistan’s annual harvest. A 2020 presidential decree mandated the establishment of a Main Directorate for the development of the food processing industry at the Ministry of Agriculture. This bureau is tasked with creating conditions for productive collaboration between agricultural producers and food processing companies, devising a strategy for the development of Uzbekistan’s food processing industry, facilitating construction of necessary trade and logistics centers, and promoting the export of food products. The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade has been tasked with attracting funds from IFIs to finance these initiatives.

Table:  Food Processing Market Size, Million USD

 202220232024 2025 estimated
Total Exports1,6321,7782,1752,500
Total Imports3,3933,4963,6964,000
Imports from the US1.12.43.4N/A
Trade Surplus/Deficit*-1,761-1,718-1,521-1,500
Exchange Rates**11,05111,73712,65312,900

*Trade Surplus/Deficit = Total Exports – Total Imports

**Exchange Rates = Uzbek soums per $1
Units: $ millions
Source: The State Statistics committee of Uzbekistan. Data for 2025 was estimated by Post using company project implementation progress reports.  Data on imports from the U.S. is from the U.S. Census Bureau.  

Leading Sub-sectors

  • Juices
  • Fruit and vegetable processing
  • Meat and milk processing
  • Packaging material (cardboard, paper, aluminum foil, stretch films)
  • Compact processing machinery for use by small businesses

Opportunities

The best opportunities for processing/packaging equipment lie in the areas of juice, fruit, vegetable, meat, and milk processing and packaging. Uzbekistan’s government encourages private sector development in these areas. The greatest demand for packaging material is for cardboard, paper, aluminum foil, and stretch films. Demand is high among small businesses for small-scale equipment purchases.  
For specific opportunities, businesses should contact companies involved in Uzbekistan’s food processing sector.  Some of the larger companies currently doing business in food processing in Uzbekistan include Lactalis, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. Local companies prefer working with a foreign partner and value foreign management, technology, technical expertise, and export market access.

Resources

U.S. companies and individuals interested in learning more about the food processing and packaging sectors in Uzbekistan, upcoming procurements, and export opportunities are encouraged to visit the following websites: 

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