Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Experts from the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRI) analyzed banana imports for 2017-2022. In 2022, the volume of banana imports to Uzbekistan increased by more than 1.5 times compared to the previous year. Moreover, the volume of imports of this product continues to show rapid growth for the second year in a row.

According to the UN COMTRADE and TRADEMAP databases, in 2022, the volume of banana imports to Uzbekistan amounted to 140.2 thousand tons, which is 1.6 times more than in the previous year. For comparison, in 2021 the country imported 2.2 times more bananas than in 2020.

In 2020, the volume of banana imports to Uzbekistan decreased by 7% compared to 2019. Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, banana consumption in Uzbekistan was growing rapidly and significantly, but the growing trend was interrupted due to the impact of the coronavirus.

In subsequent years, import growth recovered. The incentive for the growth of banana consumption was the decision of the government to zero import customs duties on this product. Since October 2021, Uzbekistan has had a zero-customs rate regime for banana imports, which has been extended several times. The zero rate is currently valid until 1 January 2024.

It is worth noting that many banana-importing countries have import tariff duties. Thus, in the EAEU member countries, the import tariff on bananas is 4% (but not less than 0.015 euros per 1 kg), in Japan there is a seasonal rate equal to 18% in winter and 8% in summer, in South Korea - 30%.

These government measures also create indirect and co-benefits for public health. Bananas have numerous health benefits, according to research from the Harvard University School of Public Health, including:

- Improve diabetes control;

- Support digestion;

- Help to get rid of excess weight;

- Stabilize blood pressure;

- Helps in wound healing.