- Oil & fats imports jump 49.3%: Vegetable oil and fat imports reached $417.3 million in Jan–Nov 2025, highlighting rapidly growing demand.
- Oilseed inflows up 34%: Oilseed imports climbed to $83 million, while exports grew 10% to $23 million.
- Grain trade expansion: Grain imports rose 10% to $919.5 million, with exports surging 42% to $501.3 million.
- Emerging regional hub: Parallel growth in imports and exports suggests Uzbekistan is strengthening its role as a processing and re-export center in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan Ramps Up Oilseed and Grain Trade
Uzbekistan significantly expanded its agricultural commodity trade during the first eleven months of 2025, according to the Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The strongest growth was recorded in the vegetable oils and fats segment, where imports surged 49.3% year-on-year to $417.3 million, covering crude, refined, and fractionated products.
Exports of vegetable oils and fats also moved higher, rising nearly 32% to $51.2 million over the same period. This points to both stronger domestic demand and an expanding role for Uzbekistan in regional processing and distribution chains.
In the oilseed sector, imports increased 34% to $83 million between January and November 2025. Oilseed exports grew at a more moderate pace, adding 10% to reach $23 million, indicating steady but measured outward trade development.
Grain crops and processed grain products posted broad-based growth, with imports up 10% to $919.5 million. On the export side, momentum was even stronger, with grain and grain product exports jumping 42% to $501.3 million, underscoring Uzbekistan’s rising significance in regional grain flows.
Trade Flows by Commodity Segment
| Category | Indicator | Jan–Nov 2025 Value (USD) | Year-on-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetable oils & fats | Imports | $417.3 million | +49.3% |
| Vegetable oils & fats | Exports | $51.2 million | +32% (approx.) |
| Oilseeds | Imports | $83 million | +34% |
| Oilseeds | Exports | $23 million | +10% |
| Grain & grain products | Imports | $919.5 million | +10% |
| Grain & grain products | Exports | $501.3 million | +42% |
Market Analysis and Regional Implications
The sharp increase in vegetable oil and fat imports points to rising domestic consumption or a build-out of refining and processing capacity. For Black Sea suppliers, particularly in sunflower and rapeseed oil, this signals a deeper and more structurally important export outlet into Central Asia.
Simultaneous growth in imports and exports across oils, oilseeds, and grains suggests Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a processing and re-export hub. This evolution is likely to reshape freight patterns, boosting logistics demand from Black Sea ports eastward along established trade corridors and potentially supporting investment in storage, crushing, and milling infrastructure within the country.
Source: Market Data
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