This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/3/2019

Overview
The food processing and packaging industry has demonstrated relatively slow growth in recent years while the demand in the most populous country of the region is high.  The government prioritizes development of this industry to address both rural employment and export facilitation goals of its economic policy.  Uzbekistan domestically processes only about 16 percent from over 18 million tons of fruit and vegetables produced by local farmers annually.  Existing capacities of refrigerated warehouses can store only 5% of the national harvest.  Expected accelerated development of this industry creates new opportunities for U.S.  suppliers of food processing, packaging, and storage technologies.

 2016201720182019 estimated
Total Local Production4,4514,9613,7364,100
Total Exports1,0708761,0971,200
Total Imports1,4401,2741,5811,800
Imports from the US3.60.030.92.5
Total Market Size*4,8215,3594,2204,700
Exchange Rates**2,9655,1218,1008,500

*Total market size = (total local production + imports) – exports
** Exchange Rates = Uzbek sums per $1
Units: $ millions
Source: The State Statistics committee of Uzbekistan.  Data for 2019 was estimated by Post using company project implementation progress reports.  Imports from the U.S.  data is from the U.S.  census bureau. 
Leading Sub-Sectors
The best sector opportunities in production and processing/packaging equipment supply lie in the areas of juice, fruit, vegetable, meat and milk processing.  The Uzbek government is encouraging private sector development in these areas.  The greatest demand for packaging material is for cardboard, paper, aluminum foil, and stretch films.  Small businesses have a great need for small-scale equipment.

Opportunities


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 Nestle, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Carlsberg.  Local companies prefer working with a foreign partner and value foreign management, technology, technical expertise, and export market access.

Web 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:

ITE Uzbekistan Exhibition Company: www.ite-uzbekistan.uz
Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan: www.mift.uz
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan: www.chamber.uz
Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan: www.mineconomy.uz
Government Portal of the Republic of Uzbekistan: www.gov.uz

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