Browse Data and Analysis

Central Asia is a diverse, important corner of the world and a growing market for U.S. goods. Agricultural imports from the world for Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan totaled $11.6 billion in 2023 and have nearly doubled over the last three years, with the United States as the 11th largest trade partner at $196 million.

FAS/Nairobi forecasts Uganda’s coffee production in the Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25 to reach 6.9 million bags (60 kg), an increase of 40,000 bags from the previous year, due to adoption of good agricultural practices, targeted interventions to combat pest and disease outbreaks, and maturation of new high-yielding seedlings planted in recent years.

The global cotton industry is still readjusting to lower post-pandemic demand, and Uzbekistan wasn’t spared the effects of the market overhang. Uzbekistan's strong vertical integration and government support for the industry have helped drive both its resiliency and recovery.

Uzbekistan’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is estimated at 621,000 metric tons (MT) (2.85 million bales). Cotton consumption in MY 2023/24 is forecast lower year-to-year at 599,000 MT (2.75 million bales) due to lower demand from importer countries like Turkiye and Russia for cotton yarn and fabric.

FAS/Nairobi forecasts Uganda’s marketing year (MY) 2023/24 coffee production will increase 4 percent to 6.85 million 60 kilogram bags due to good rainfall and the maturation of new high-yielding Robusta seedlings planted in 2019.

Uzbekistan’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is forecast unchanged from the previous year at 675,000 metric tons (MT) (3.10 million bales).

The marketing year (MY) 2022/23 total cotton production area for Uzbekistan is forecast as 980,000 hectares (ha) and the cotton production is estimated as 675,000 metric tons (MT) (3.10 million bales). Post forecasts MY 2022/23 consumption of cotton to be about 653,000 MT (3 million bales) for MY 2022/23.

With international funding to develop and implement biosafety regulatory systems drying up in 2019, Caribbean biosafety regulatory efforts remain in idle mode. The region is seeking further funding from the United Nations Environmental Program/Global...

On May 5, 2022, trade and finance ministers from East African Community (EAC) member countries agreed to raise minimum common external tariffs from 25 to 35 percent on several agricultural products.

FAS/Nairobi forecasts an increase in Uganda’s marketing year (MY) 2022/23 coffee production to a new record of 6.65 million bags due to favorable weather and recently established plantations coming into full production. Arabica production is anticipated to decrease by 5.2 percent to 900,000 bags due to cyclical yield variation.

Biosafety regulatory efforts in the Caribbean remain stalled, and it is yet to be seen whether countries can regain the will and secure the international financing required to fully implement their National Biosafety Frameworks in a harmonized manner.

Eager to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind it, the Caribbean is doing all it can to attract visitors and kick-start its tourism sector in 2021.