Uzbekistan aims to produce approximately 3.1 million cotton bales in the marketing year (MY) 2020-21. Its cotton production area will be 980,000 hectares, says a report by international textile magazine, Textilegence. As a part of its new marketing strategy, Uzbekistan plans to sell cotton not as a raw material but as products to the global market. Its domestic consumption is estimated to be 2.75 million bales in 2020/21. On the other hand, raw cotton exports are expected to remain at 50 thousand tonne.

The Uzbekistan government is encouraging new partnerships to increase local cotton use. It has approved new textile investments and factories. Existing textile factories continue to increase their capacities. Government officials aim to use all local cotton production in the country’s own textile sector in the 2020-21 marketing year, due to the rapid increase in domestic consumption.

The government will also provide tax, customs and land benefits to foreign companies through clusters to encourage investment and promote vertical integration in the textile and clothing industry.