EastFruit team has been writing a lot about Uzbekistan’s successes in the export fruit markets. The country indeed ranks among the largest global exporters in such categories as table grapes, cherries, apricots, melons, and dried fruits. However, recently this fruit-exporting powerhouse is turning into a very attractive market for foreign fruit suppliers! How is this possible?
While Uzbekistan’s fruit exports continue to flourish, its imports are surging at a pace that’s rewriting the narrative. This isn’t just a minor shift; it’s a transformation that’s both surprising and significant. Between 2021 and 2024, Uzbekistan’s fruit exports climbed from $341 million to $658 million—a robust 93% increase.
This growth reflects the country’s strength in traditional categories like grapes, dried fruits, and apricots, which have found eager buyers in many foreign markets. Cherries, in particular, have emerged as a standout, with export values jumping 150%, from $20 million to $50 million. It’s a testament to Uzbekistan’s enduring appeal as an exporter.
Also read: Uzbek Sweet Cherry Season 2025: High Yields, but Few Large-Caliber Fruits
But here’s the real surprise: over the same period, fruit imports ballooned from $60 million to $250 million — a staggering 317% rise – one of the fastest in the world! While exports nearly doubled, imports more than quadrupled, driven by an insatiable demand for bananas, citrus fruits, specifically mandarins and oranges and fresh apples.
In fact, it is not the exotic fruits but the apples that have shown the fastest import growth in these recent 3 years. Imports surged 17 times in just 3 years to exceed $85 million in 2024. Bananas imports soared threefold, exceeding $100 million for the first time in 2024. However, mandarin imports grew even faster than these of bananas – 4 times in 3 years and almost reached the value of banana imports at $95 million USD.
Among other rapid growing import categories were also oranges, which grew nearly fivefold to $25 million USD, pears, kiwis and dates. It seems that the trade mission organized by FAO and EBRD team to Uzbekistan for exporters of citrus fruits and dates from Egypt and Morocco has been yielding some good results already!
Why the Sudden Hunger for Imports?
Several factors are fueling this unexpected growth in Uzbekistan’s imports. Uzbek consumers are increasingly seeking out exotic fruits like bananas and citrus, reflecting global trends and rising disposable incomes.
“Year-round consumption of fresh fruits is gradually displacing seasonal consumption and becoming the norm in Uzbekistan. This growth is occurring at the expense of dried fruits, which traditionally replaced fresh produce for local consumers during the winter period. And this, in turn, contributes to the growth of dried fruit exports,” says Andriy Yarmak, economist at the FAO Investment Centre.
Rapid increase in fruit imports would not be possible without a 0% import dutiy that the government of Uzbekistan imposes on fruits, which are not produced in sufficient volumes in Uzbekistan. Officially these 0% import duties are temporary but are extended each year for several years now.
What This Means for Traders, Growers, and You
This shift is more than a statistic — it’s a game-changer. For fruit traders, Uzbekistan’s $250 million import market is a golden opportunity. Suppliers of bananas, apples, dates, and citrus— from Egypt, Pakistan and Morocco to Poland and Ukraine — are already cashing in, but there’s room for more. The challenge lies in navigating logistics and competition, while the reward is a slice of a fast-growing pie.
For the public, this is a taste of a changing Uzbekistan. Markets once filled solely with local harvests now brim with global flavors — a sign of a nation opening up and getting wealthier.
The Road Ahead: A Fruitful Future?
Uzbekistan isn’t losing its export crown — $658 million in 2024 says otherwise. But with imports at $250 million and rising fast, the balance is shifting. For now, this much is clear: Uzbekistan’s fruit trade is no longer just about its legendary orchards. It’s about a nation embracing the world. Trade brings prosperity and thus, both: imports and exports benefit the country and create new opportunities for businesses and consumers.
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