Uzbekistan imported 310,000 tons of potatoes worth $35.4 million in the first seven months of 2021. This is the highest figure for this period over the past two decades.
Experts claim the increase in potato imports contributes to price stability in the domestic market.
The statistical committee said that the imports of potatoes in the reporting period exceeded the imports in the previous year by 79,100 tons, or by 34%.
Almost the entire volume (99.7%) of import was supplied from six countries: Iran – 119,000 tons (38.5% of total imports), Kazakhstan – 85,000 tons (27.4%), Pakistan – 75,500 tons (24.4%), Kyrgyzstan – 16,800 tons (5.4%), the Netherlands – 8,100 tons (2.6%) and Russia – 4,200 tons (1.4%). Other countries supplied 1,000 tons (0.3%).
Uzbekistan produced 1.5 million tons of potatoes in January-June, up by 3.5% YoY.
As of September 9, the average wholesale prices for potatoes in the capital markets of Uzbekistan stood at 3,000 UZS/kg ($0.28), the same as it was on the same date in 2020. (Uzreport/Business World Magazine)