In Surkhandarya, onion prices have reached 4,000–4,500 soums. The Ministry of Agriculture explained the reasons
The increase in onion prices is being affected by transport costs, seasonal factors, and the markups of certain traders, which are reaching up to 50 percent. The volume of onion production in the country is expected to be 35 percent higher than domestic demand.
In Surkhandarya, the price of onions reached 4–4.5 thousand sums. The Ministry of Agriculture commented on this
In the markets of Surkhandarya region, one kilogram of onions is being sold for 4–4.5 thousand sums. The Ministry of Agriculture responded to reports on social networks about the rise in onion prices and explained the reasons for the price increase.
According to the data provided by the Ministry, it is calculated that 1.5 million tons of onions will be grown in Uzbekistan in 2026. This is 400 thousand tons or 35 percent more than the population's consumption needs based on medical standards.
In the first nine months of this year, 387.1 thousand tons of onions were grown in Surkhandarya region. Of these, 120 thousand tons were directed to population consumption, 46 thousand tons were exported, and the remaining part was sent to other regions.
According to the Ministry, the soil and climatic conditions of Surkhandarya are suitable for growing onions mainly in April–May. Due to high temperatures in summer, late onions that ripen in October–November are planted less on large areas.
Currently, there are no onions grown for the 2026 harvest left in the fields of the region. For this reason, local markets are being supplied at the expense of products brought from Jizzakh and Samarkand regions.
### How is the price of onions being formed?
According to calculations by the Ministry of Agriculture, one kilogram of onions is being purchased from farmers in Jizzakh region at 2 600–3 300 sums, and in Samarkand at 2 800–3 000 sums.
The cost of transporting a one-kilogram load from these regions to Surkhandarya makes up 350–370 sums. In particular, delivering 20 tons of products costs up to 7 million sums, and transporting 10 tons costs up to 3.8–4 million sums.
After adding transport costs, the prime delivery cost of onions is 2 950–3 650 sums when brought from Jizzakh, and 3 150–3 350 sums when brought from Samarkand. The cost price of the product delivered to Denov district reaches 3 400–3 500 sums.
The Ministry noted that in some cases there is a significant difference between the cost price of the product and the retail price.
For example, when a transport cost of 350 sums is added to onions purchased at 2 600 sums, the cost price becomes 2 950 sums. If the product is sold in the market at 4 500 sums, the difference between them is 1 550 sums or equal to 52.5 percent relative to the cost price.
In another case, when onions with a cost price of 3 650 sums are sold at 4 thousand sums, the difference makes up 350 sums or 9.6 percent.
The Ministry stated that along with seasonal factors, high prices of fuel and lubricants, and transport and logistics services, the trade markups of middleman entrepreneurs reaching up to 25–50 percent are also affecting the price increase.
In addition, the population's effort to buy more onions and stockpile them when they are cheap is also affecting the increase in demand and prices.
### 102.8 thousand tons of onions will be stockpiled for the winter season
It was reported that for the 2026–2027 winter-spring season, work is being organized across the republic to stockpile a total of 102.8 thousand tons of onions. Of these, 2 750 tons fall to the share of Surkhandarya region.
Currently, onion harvesting is continuing in Tashkent, Samarkand, Jizzakh, Syrdarya, and valley regions. The Ministry stated that there is an opportunity to release stockpiled products into the domestic market and sell them at reduced prices in special trade stalls.
Also, certain individuals and entrepreneurs attempting to artificially inflate the price of onions were warned. It was emphasized that holding the product in warehouses for the purpose of selling it at a higher price may cause damage as a result of a reduction in its weight and deterioration of its quality.
As a reminder, according to data from the Statistics Committee, onion prices in Uzbekistan increased by an average of 2.6 percent in September 2026. In the same month, overall inflation made up 0.7 percent, and annual inflation made up 6.4 percent.