Uzbekistan produces over 23 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually, including vegetables (51%), potatoes (16%), fruits (14%), melons (11%), and grapes (8%). However, only 10–15% of this output is processed, while post-harvest losses are estimated at 20–30%, according to industry experts.
The country currently operates 2,011 cold storage facilities with a total capacity of 1.14 million tonnes. The largest capacities are concentrated in Samarkand, Fergana, and Tashkent regions. Yet, this infrastructure covers only 4.9% of Uzbekistan's total fruit and vegetable output. By comparison, experts note that cold storage capacity should reach at least 75% of exported volumes to support stable foreign trade.
In 2024, Uzbekistan exported 2.04 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables, which would require a storage capacity of approximately 1.53 million tonnes. The existing shortfall is around 386,000 tonnes, or a 33% increase in storage capacity.
The lack of modern facilities leads to a deterioration in quality and limits export growth, especially for perishable products such as cherries and soft fruit. To address this, experts recommend a targeted state program to co-finance the construction of new cold stores, prioritizing underdeveloped regions and mobile, small-scale units for seasonal crops.
Similar initiatives have been successfully implemented in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, where the government subsidized up to 70% of equipment costs for cold chain expansion. In Uzbekistan, the development of a digital logistics map combining storage, processing, and transport routes could further reduce post-harvest losses and improve export competitiveness.
Source: www.uzdaily.uz
