Browse Data and Analysis

Uzbekistan’s cotton sector is at a crossroads. While opportunities for high-value-added products like textiles and ready-to-wear apparel are expanding, the industry faces financial constraints, shrinking farmland, and water shortages.

Uzbekistan plans to increase its textile exports from $3 billion to $7 billion by 2028, which depends on a stable supply of raw cotton. However, this goal faces challenges as cotton production is under pressure due to various factors.

The global cotton industry is still readjusting to lower post-pandemic demand, and Uzbekistan wasn’t spared the effects of the market overhang. Uzbekistan's strong vertical integration and government support for the industry have helped drive both its resiliency and recovery.

Uzbekistan’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is estimated at 621,000 metric tons (MT) (2.85 million bales). Cotton consumption in MY 2023/24 is forecast lower year-to-year at 599,000 MT (2.75 million bales) due to lower demand from importer countries like Turkiye and Russia for cotton yarn and fabric.

Uzbekistan’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is forecast unchanged from the previous year at 675,000 metric tons (MT) (3.10 million bales).

Post forecasts MY2022/23 cotton imports to increase 4 percent but remain well below the 5-year average annual import demand from MY2017/18 – MY2021/22 in anticipation of slow economic recovery in 2023.

The marketing year (MY) 2022/23 total cotton production area for Uzbekistan is forecast as 980,000 hectares (ha) and the cotton production is estimated as 675,000 metric tons (MT) (3.10 million bales). Post forecasts MY 2022/23 consumption of cotton to be about 653,000 MT (3 million bales) for MY 2022/23.

FAS Bangkok (Post) forecasts marketing year (MY) 2022/23 cotton imports slightly larger than MY2021/22 in line with the global economic recovery and anticipated rising demand from key foreign trade partners. There has been a significant increase of imported cotton in MY2021/22 due to foreign customers’ pent-up demand for both textile and garment products from the previous years.

MY2021/22 cotton import demand is expected to increase 9 percent, well below average annual import demand prior to the COVID-19 pandemic due to slow economic recovery. MY2020/21 cotton imports further declined 15 percent from MY2019/20. Imports of U...

The 2020 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world. This summary lists only the United States’ primary trading partners.

On January 25, 2021, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) published a ministerial regulation allowing for the commercial production and use of hemp.

MY2021/22 cotton imports are unlikely to recover due to slow economic growth. MY2020/21 cotton imports reduce sharply, and imports of U.S. cotton are also forecast to decline significantly.