Uzbek Cotton and the Textile Push — 2026-09-25
Uzbekistan has unveiled a new support package of 500,000 soums-per-tonne subsidies for cotton farmers and clusters selling on the exchange, plus credit compensation for textile exporters, as officials respond to falling cotton demand. President Mirziyoyev inaugurated the $10 million Eco Cotton knitwear factory in Andijan, spotlighting the shift to finished goods. Belarus and Uzbekistan moved to expand exchange-based textile trade.
Uzbek Cotton and the Textile Push — 2026-09-25
Top developments
500,000 soums per tonne subsidy for exchange-sold cotton
announcedOn September 24, Gazeta.uz reported that farmers who sell cotton through the commodity exchange — and the clusters that buy it — will each receive a subsidy of 500,000 soums per tonne. Acting Deputy PM S. Umurzakov leads a working group overseeing the cotton picking campaign under the cluster system. The move is explicitly framed as a response to falling cotton demand and rising logistics costs.
Credit compensation and marketplace export support for textile exporters
Alongside the farmer subsidies, the package includes compensation on credits for textile exporters. Uzbek exporters plan a 3% payout of the value of goods sold via marketplaces. Fergana.agency reports the expanded subsidies target both farmers and clusters amid weak cotton demand.
Eco Cotton: $10 million knitwear factory launched in Andijan
On September 22–23, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected the newly launched Eco Cotton factory in Andijan district, which invested $10 million in knitwear production and created 1,000 permanent jobs. Zamin.uz highlighted the facility's modern technologies as an example of the industry's pivot toward value-added finished goods.
Belarus and Uzbekistan eye expanded exchange trade in textiles
On September 23, BELTA reported that Belarus and Uzbekistan plan to expand bilateral exchange trading in textile products, with regular mutual deliveries of raw materials and textile industry supplies through the Belarusian exchange seen as a new growth point.
Productivity transformation despite shrinking acreage
As cotton fields have shrunk sharply, cotton yields in Uzbekistan have nearly doubled, and raw cotton exports from Central Asia fell 76% while Uzbekistan reoriented the sector toward finished textiles earning about $3 billion.
Local view
Uzbek-language outlets frame the subsidy package as a lifeline for farmers and clusters: Gazeta.uz reports the 500,000-soums-per-tonne payment for both sellers and buyers of exchange-traded cotton. Spot.uz notes planned expansion of subsidies for cotton farmers and clusters, plus the 3% marketplace export payout proposal. Zamin.uz celebrated the Eco Cotton plant as proof that "future technologies" are moving into practice in the light industry.
Context & numbers
- MY 2026/27 cotton cultivation directed across 891,000 hectares
- Subsidy: 500,000 soums per tonne, paid to both farmer and cluster on exchange transactions
- Eco Cotton: $10 million investment, 1,000 permanent jobs
- Textile exports ~$2.6 billion in 2025, with $4.0 billion ambition
- Proposed 3% of goods value paid to textile exporters selling via marketplaces
On the radar
- Neighbouring Tajikistan's harvest is trailing: only 17.3% of the picking plan completed, half of last year's pace — a regional supply signal for Central Asian cotton markets
- Regional benchmark: Turkmenistan's SCRMET exchange recorded cotton yarn deals abroad in the September 18 session — watch for Uzbek exchange yarn activity as the harvest accelerates
- Implementation details of the marketplace 3% export payout remain pending final approval
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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