In the first four months of 2025, Kyrgyzstan exported 143.7 tons of honey, a 47% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry.

China emerged as the leading importer, purchasing 82.1 tons of Kyrgyz honey. Other major destinations included the United Arab Emirates (24.5 tons), Uzbekistan (15.1 tons), Qatar (6.3 tons), and Kuwait (4.6 tons).

Meanwhile, honey imports into Kyrgyzstan have virtually ceased. Only 0.5 tons were imported in 2025, a dramatic drop from 44.8 tons the previous year. The ministry attributed this decline to robust domestic production and growing consumer confidence in local honey.

EU Market Prospects

Kyrgyz honey is expected to be included in the European Union’s product registry by early 2025. To gain access to the EU market, Kyrgyz authorities submitted a residue monitoring plan to the European Commission, a required step for export approval.

Renowned for its flavor and health benefits, Kyrgyz honey owes its distinctive quality to the diverse herbs found in the country’s mountainous regions.

International Attention

At EXPO 2025 in the Japanese city of Osaka, Kyrgyz honey drew significant attention. Nazim Baibosunov, a representative of the Kyrgyz diaspora in Japan, noted that the product created a stir on the opening day. One incident underscored its popularity: an 83-year-old Japanese man attempted to steal a jar of Kyrgyz honey on display.

According to Japanese media, this marked the first reported theft and subsequent arrest at the exhibition.

On May 13, President Sadyr Japarov laid the foundation stone for a new international airport in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan’s third-largest city.

The new airport will span over 380 hectares and include a two-story passenger terminal covering 10,000 square meters, with the capacity to handle 350 passengers per hour. Its airfield infrastructure will meet international standards, featuring a 3,800-meter runway and six aircraft parking bays. The facility will accommodate both passenger and cargo aircraft, including Boeing 737, Airbus A320, and A321 models.

Unlike a renovation of the existing facility, the project entails entirely new construction. The current Jalal-Abad airport dates back to 1938, originally serving as an airfield, with a terminal building and asphalt runway added in 1972.

Boosting Air Infrastructure

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Japarov emphasized the rising demand for both domestic and international flights, underscoring the need to expand the country’s airport infrastructure.

“Since 2021, Kyrgyzstan has increased passenger traffic by 46% and the number of flights by 31%. New aircraft have been acquired, and previously idle regional airports have resumed operations,” he said.

He also noted that the newly established Asman Airlines has restored all domestic routes, linking the capital, Bishkek, with Talas, Karakol, and Kerben. In 2024, the airline added two Canadian-made Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 short-haul aircraft to its fleet for domestic service.

Regional Impact

Japarov stated that the new Jalal-Abad International Airport would enhance logistics, trade, tourism, and investment across the Fergana Valley, a region shared by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

This project is part of Kyrgyzstan’s broader strategy to modernize its aviation infrastructure. In February 2025, construction began on a new airport complex at Osh International Airport, located in the country’s second-largest city.

Kyrgyzstan has also recently inaugurated Karakol International Airport and Talas Airport.

Reconstruction efforts are currently underway at Issyk-Kul International Airport and Naryn Airport.