Kazakhstan supplies 80% of Uzbekistan’s potato imports in first half of 2026

Kazakhstan dominates external supply

Uzbekistan imported 421,900 tonnes of potatoes from 11 countries in January–June 2026, according to National Statistics Committee data reported by nuz.uz. The shipments were valued at $34 million. Import volume fell by almost 46,900 tonnes compared with the same period of 2025, but the country continued to rely heavily on its northern neighbour.

Kazakhstan supplied 337,900 tonnes, equivalent to about 80% of Uzbekistan’s total potato imports during the six-month period. Its shipments were almost four times larger than the combined volume delivered by Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and the Netherlands, underlining the concentration of Uzbekistan’s external potato supply.

Pakistan ranked a distant second with 33,800 tonnes. Kyrgyzstan supplied 14,800 tonnes, Afghanistan 13,500 tonnes and the Netherlands 9,700 tonnes. The remaining supplying countries accounted for a combined 12,200 tonnes. Proximity gives Central Asian origins an evident logistical role, while the figures show that Kazakhstan operates on a substantially larger scale than every other supplier.

Imports coexist with a large domestic crop

The import requirement does not mean Uzbekistan lacks a substantial potato industry. Preliminary National Statistics Committee figures show that farms across all categories produced about 4.16 million tonnes in 2025. First-half imports in 2026 therefore represented only a fraction of the country’s annual domestic output, even though they were significant in absolute terms.

Uzbekistan also plans to expand production. The Ministry of Agriculture previously said the area allocated to the 2026 potato crop was expected to reach 284,000 hectares, with output projected at about 4.5 million tonnes. The programme combines additional planted area with efforts to raise yields, use higher-quality seed material and introduce modern cultivation technology.

The simultaneous presence of multimillion-tonne domestic production and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of imports points to factors beyond aggregate annual supply. Seasonality, the timing of local harvests, regional availability, product quality and varietal characteristics can all influence procurement. Imports can also cover the interval between domestic crops and serve market segments that local production does not fully supply.

Regional flows remain highly concentrated

For Kazakh growers and traders, the figures identify Uzbekistan as a major nearby outlet capable of absorbing large volumes. A land border and shorter routes than those available to more distant suppliers can support rapid deliveries of a bulky, perishable commodity. Kazakhstan’s 337,900-tonne position also suggests that changes in its harvest, domestic prices or export availability could quickly affect Uzbek buyers.

For Uzbekistan, dependence on one origin creates both efficiency and exposure. Concentrated purchases from a neighbouring producer can reduce transport complexity, but supply disruptions or price changes in Kazakhstan would be harder to offset quickly through the much smaller existing flows from other countries. Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and the Netherlands provide some diversification, although none approaches Kazakhstan’s volume.

The 46,900-tonne year-on-year decline indicates that overall import demand weakened in the first half, while Kazakhstan still retained a commanding share. Future flows will depend on whether Uzbekistan reaches its planned 4.5 million-tonne harvest, how production is distributed through the season and whether improvements in seed and cultivation technology translate into marketable supply. For now, the trade data show that domestic expansion and large-scale imports are operating in parallel rather than excluding one another.