Meat Imports in Uzbekistan Rise 63 Percent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s spending on meat and meat products imports reached US$320.6 million in January–April 2026, marking a 62.8% increase compared with US$197.0 million in the same period of 2025.

According to data from the State Customs Committee, the growth reflects not only higher overall purchases but also a notable diversification of imported meat categories. Alongside traditional products, previously marginal items such as turkey and duck have gained significant traction.

Beef remained the dominant category, accounting for 74.6% of the total value of meat imports. The country imported 49.9 million kilograms worth US$239.2 million, compared with 38.4 million kilograms worth US$156.2 million a year earlier. This represents an increase of 29.9% in volume and 53.1% in value.

Lamb imports showed one of the most striking shifts. Physical volumes rose 46% from 6.3 million kilograms to 9.2 million kilograms. However, the value surged far more sharply, increasing from US$6.5 million to US$26.4 million—an increase of more than fourfold (+307%).

Chicken meat imports grew 26.5% in volume, from 17.9 million kilograms to 22.7 million kilograms, and 23.8% in value, from US$21.9 million to US$27.2 million. Poultry remains the second-largest import category by volume, although its share of total meat import value declined from 11.1% to 8.5% amid stronger growth in beef and lamb.

Imports of meat offal increased by 54.3% in volume and 85.2% in value, rising from US$6.2 million to US$11.5 million. Canned meat products nearly doubled in volume and more than doubled in value, increasing from US$3.4 million to US$8.1 million (+135%). Sausages rose 29.5% in volume and 46% in value.

The most dramatic changes were recorded in poultry segments that previously had minimal presence in import statistics.

Turkey imports increased 5.9 times in volume, from 259,700 kilograms to 1.546 million kilograms, and more than 11 times in value, from US$354,500 to US$4.1 million. Duck imports rose even more sharply, increasing from 15,000 kilograms to 914,900 kilograms—about 61 times higher in volume—and from US$36,900 to US$1.6 million in value.

Pork imports declined by 16.7% in volume to 100,000 kilograms and by 33.3% in value, falling from US$393,300 to US$262,400. Horse meat imports dropped 47.3% in volume to 68,000 kilograms and 47.7% in value to US$220,000. Together, both categories account for less than 0.2% of total meat imports.