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.

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.

On February 21, 2024, The Government of Rwanda (GoR) published a new biosafety law providing requirements for the transit and utilization of living modified organisms (LMOs) produced through modern biotechnology techniques. This law enters effect immediately.

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.

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.

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.

On Thursday, February 25, 2021, the Flemish Council for Permit Disputes (RvVB) faulted the Flemish nitrogen emission control program (PAS in Dutch), rejecting a demand for a new poultry barn permit...

On March 10, 2021, the Belgian retail group Colruyt announced that it would launch the Eco-Score for products of its private label brand.

Belgium is a Member State of the European Union (EU) and applies the certification requirements described in the European Union Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS)...

As of March 2020, Uzbekistan liberalized the cotton market with a presidential decree.

In marketing year (MY) 2019/20, Bulgaria’s total fresh deciduous fruit crop declined by seven percent. Apple production decreased by 13 percent from MY 2018/19, as unfavorable weather conditions...