According to EastFruit analysts, in 2022 Egypt became the main supplier of oranges to Uzbekistan, replacing the previous long-term leader, which was Turkey.
According to our preliminary estimates, the volume of orange imports to Uzbekistan in 2022 set a record having increased by 50% compared to 2021. The main reason for this was the liberalization of imports, as well as the ongoing economic growth in this Central Asian, which contributes to the expansion of produce assortment consumed by the local population.
It should be noted that imports of fresh oranges from Egypt to Uzbekistan increased by 75% in 2022, while imports from Turkey fell by 40%. As a result, the share of Turkish oranges in Uzbek imports decreased from 43% in 2021 to 17% in 2022. At the same time, Turkey immediately dropped to third place in the ranking of suppliers, as it was also overtaken also by Iran, which increased exports of oranges to Uzbekistan by more than 20 times in 2022.
The overall growth in the geography of imports of fresh oranges to Uzbekistan in 2022 was also rather significant. Commercial volumes of oranges were shipped to Uzbekistan by nine countries, three of which, however, were re-exporters.
In addition to these countries, the appearance of Zimbabwe among the suppliers of oranges to Uzbekistan attracts particular attention. This African country continues to actively increase the production of fresh oranges and is looking for new markets for its fruits.
Unusual orange price trends in Uzbekistan were noted in January 2023
Orange price trends in January 2022 in Uzbekistan where completely opposite to the same month of 2021 and 2020 according to EastFruit. Prices for fresh oranges increased during the first month of 2022 while they were mostly dropping in the same month of previous two years.
According to EastFruit price monitoring, from January 6 to January 27, 2023, the average wholesale price for oranges in Uzbekistan increased from 12,000 to 16,000 UZS/kg (from US $1.06 to $1.41). This represents an impressive 33% increase in just three weeks. For comparison, in the same period of 2021, the average wholesale price for oranges declined by 13%, and in 2021 – by 10%.
However, as of January 27 2023, orange price in Uzbekistan is 14% higher than on the same date of 2022 but 11% lower than 2021. It should be noted that from mid-August to the end of December 2020, the average wholesale prices for fresh oranges in Uzbekistan were significantly lower than at the same period of previous years, except for a rather short period – from the second half of November and till the first ten days of December 2022.
The government of Uzbekistan in 2021 lifted import duties for oranges and some other fruits, which are not grown commercially in Uzbekistan, which led to an increase of imports.
For more information: east-fruit.com