Has Uzbekistan’s share of the fruit and vegetable market in Kazakhstan been handed over to Chinese producers?
2025-12-15 14:10:00 / News
The Republic of Kazakhstan is one of Uzbekistan’s closest partners, including in the export of agricultural products. Analysis shows that over the past three years, the average price of fruits and vegetables exported to the neighboring country amounted to 40–45 cents. This level is insufficient for local producers who aim to achieve higher profitability from fruit and vegetable exports.
The current objective is not to retain the market, as before, by exporting large volumes of products at low prices. Instead, in line with Presidential Decree No. 136 of the Republic of Uzbekistan *“On additional measures to enhance export potential and develop the agricultural processing chain,”* the focus is on increasing export volumes through product diversification, taking into account regional specialization and targeting markets with higher purchasing power.
As of December 13, 2025, exports of fruit, vegetable, and food products exceeded USD 3 billion, representing a 136% increase compared to the same period last year.
These results were achieved due to the following factors:
* compared to the same period last year, the average price per ton of exported products increased by USD 210;
* export volumes increased in 77 countries;
* phytosanitary permits were obtained for the export of 36 types of fruits and vegetables to 8 countries, bringing the total number of permits to 644;
* the geography of exports expanded to 19 new markets, with exports carried out to 88 countries;
* the export product range increased by 15 items, reaching 125 types of products (TOP products include beans, grapes, mung beans, raisins, nectarines, onions, persimmons, frozen cherries, dried cherries, dried apricots, cabbage, millet, walnuts, and watermelons).
To ensure the implementation of the set objectives, the Quarantine Agency studied market requirements. As a result of diversifying approximately 35% of export products, export volumes to Kazakhstan declined. At the same time, fruits and vegetables worth USD 665 million were exported to countries in the Americas, Europe, Arab states, the Middle East, and Asia.
In addition, mutual trade is affected by the lack of an established electronic exchange of phytosanitary certificates with the neighboring country. In some cases, the Kazakh side questions the certificate of origin and applies third-country customs tariffs, leading to higher payments and a partial reduction in export volumes by business entities. There is also a growing trend of deliberately understating product values in documentation in order to reduce customs duties. Negotiations are underway with the relevant authorities of the neighboring country, and measures are being taken to integrate national systems.
Kazakhstan remains one of Uzbekistan’s closest strategic partners. At the same time, efforts to increase export volumes through product diversification and to strengthen cooperation with various markets will continue.