The sour cherry market in Uzbekistan is experiencing a real boom: demand from buyers from Russia and Belarus is unprecedentedly high, according to EastFruit sources in the produce industry. “In Uzbekistan, meetings with foreign purchasing companies are actively taking place. Some of these companies are from Belarus — their representives live in Tashkent permanently and are actively working to procure products in Uzbekistan, freeze them, and then resell them to Russian and Polish markets. According to just a few of the many buyers interested on Uzbek sour cherries, they have orders for 5,000 tons of frozen cherries ,” notes one of the local producers of frozen fruits and berries.
Notably, many of these traders are now residing in Uzbekistan and visiting farms directly, opting for hands-on control of sourcing, processing and logistics to stay ahead of competing importers. “In the past, they worked remotely, but now they want to be physically present at the enterprises to supervise shipments,” adds one industry expert.
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The heightened interest in cherries from Central Asia is largely driven by the devastating impact of April and May 2025 frosts on fruit orchards in Eastern and Central Europe. As a result, this year’s sour cherry and sweet cherry harvests may drop to record lows. More on this can be found in our feature article: “Sweet Cherries and Sour Cherries Will Be in Severe Shortage.”
Uzbekistan, a leading cherry producer in Central Asia, is drawing attention thanks to its consistent quality of frozen fruit and competitive pricing. According to experts, cherry exports from Uzbekistan in 2025 may reach record highs, especially amid strong demand from Belarusian and Russian traders. These companies are actively diversifying their sales channels, targeting not only traditional CIS markets but also countries in Eastern Europe, such as Poland.
For Uzbek producers, this trend presents both opportunities and challenges. Competition for high-quality raw materials is intensifying, while expectations around packaging standards and logistics are becoming more stringent. The development of cooperatives and the adoption of modern sorting technologies could help local enterprises strengthen their market position.
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