TASHKENT (TCA) — In January 2017, Uzbekistan exported fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products for almost $42.6 million, twice as much as in the same period in 2016, the country’s official Jahon information agency reports.
A total of over 31 thousand tons of fruits were exported from Uzbekistan in the first month of the current year. For comparison, in January 2016, the inflow of foreign currency from the export of fruit, vegetables, cucurbits and legumes totaled $20.7 million.
The bulk of the exports consisted of grapes, pomegranates, lemons, persimmons, apples, greens, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, radishes, turnips, peanuts, and mung beans. Most of the orders were fulfilled within the framework of obligations under the contracts concluded during the First International Fruit and Vegetable Fair on 8-10 November 2016 in Tashkent.
Russia is the major importer of Uzbek fruit and vegetables today. In order to make export deliveries effective, Uzbekistan’s state agricultural export company Uzagroexport has opened four trading houses in Russia, and three in Kazakhstan. The work on the establishment of trading houses in the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, India and some countries of the European Union is nearing completion. Active negotiations are underway in the new markets in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Last year, direct deliveries of Uzbek fruit and vegetables to Russia and Central Asian countries tripled, to South Korea increased fivefold, to the UAE 1.8-fold, and to Germany 1.6-fold.