Uzbekistan Ships 807 Tonnes of Food to Belgium as Exports Exceed $1 Million
Ten Uzbek companies exported 807 tonnes of food worth more than $1 million to Belgium in the first half of 2026. Prunes, dried herbs, beans and raisins led shipments as producers used EU trade preferences to expand their European presence.
Ten exporters supply the Belgian market
Uzbekistan exported 807 tonnes of food products worth more than $1 million to Belgium in the first half of 2026, UzDaily.uz reported, citing the O’zbekiston 24 television channel. Ten domestic companies participated in the shipments, indicating that access to the Belgian market is not limited to a single supplier.
The main products were prunes, dried herbs, beans and raisins. These categories draw on Uzbekistan’s agricultural and food-processing base and can be shipped over longer distances than fresh produce. For exporters, Belgium also offers access to one of Europe’s important trading and logistics centres, potentially supporting sales beyond the national market.
EU preferences support wider market access
UzDaily.uz linked the recent growth of Uzbek exports to the European Union partly to preferences available under the GSP+ system, rendered as JSP+ in the source. According to O’zbekiston 24, exports in the European direction have increased almost threefold with the help of these preferences. Uzbekistan became a beneficiary of the special preferential arrangement in April 2021, and more than 6,200 product categories receive preferential conditions when entering the European market.
Preferential tariffs alone do not guarantee access. Producers must comply with rules of origin, international obligations and European market requirements. Uzbekistan is also updating its phytosanitary, veterinary and sanitary controls while providing companies with information about new and amended requirements. More than 30 international phytosanitary norms and standards have already been incorporated into national legislation, with implementation covering the chain from agricultural production to entry into overseas markets.
Compliance and promotion shape the next stage
International exhibitions form another part of the country’s export strategy. With support from the Food Safety Committee, Uzbekistan plans to organise a Made in Uzbekistan stand at the Cal Parish 2026 exhibition in October. The initiative is intended to give Uzbek businesses direct access to potential foreign partners and help them establish new commercial relationships.
The $1 million shipped to Belgium remains modest compared with the broader official ambition. O’zbekiston 24 said further work would focus on increasing exports to Europe, while instructions from the head of state set a target of raising the relevant indicators to $10 billion. Achieving growth on that scale will depend on more companies meeting European quality and safety rules consistently. The Belgian shipments demonstrate initial commercial access, but durable expansion will require repeat orders, reliable volumes and compliance throughout production, processing and delivery.
