Almost half of Uzbekistan's beef imports come from India.

Almost half of Uzbekistan's beef imports come from India.

According to the State Statistics Committee, from January to June 2026, Uzbekistan purchased 72,000 tons of beef abroad, worth a total of $359.5 million.

This import volume is 6,000 tons, or 9.1%, higher than the same period last year.

During this period, the main beef suppliers to Uzbekistan were:

India — 33,900 tons

Belarus — 19,600 tons

Kazakhstan — 10,600 tons

Pakistan — 4,000 tons

Other countries — 4,000 tons

Plans to increase Uzbekistan's meat imports to 130,000 tons were previously announced. In the first quarter of this year, cattle imports halved due to logistical difficulties. The President ordered an increase in meat imports and the elimination of cargo delays.

To achieve these goals, importers will be compensated up to 4 million soums for the airfreight of each breeding animal, and half of the transportation costs for meat imports will be reimbursed.

At a recent meeting chaired by the President, it was also noted that population growth and increased tourism are leading to increased food demand. Currently, the country's annual meat requirement is 2.15 million tons, while domestic production only reaches 1.6 million tons.

In this regard, the country has adopted a large-scale livestock development program for 2026–2028. A total of $463 million is planned for projects in this sector.

The implementation of these planned measures is expected to result in an additional 190,000 tons of meat production per year. The program covers several key areas.