Uzbekistan is rapidly expanding grain processing and flour production. In 2026, the country is expected to increase flour production to 4 million tons, 8% above last year’s level (3.69 million tons). Alisher Makhmudov, an expert in the agricultural market and logistics of the Central Asian region, shared this forecast at the VI International Conference Asia Grains&Oils Conference in Tashkent 2026.

He noted that the use of advanced technologies had enabled Uzbekistan to increase its grain harvest to 10 million tons in the current season, compared with just 7 million tons in 2023.

According to the expert, domestic flour consumption in Uzbekistan is estimated at 2.82 million tons this year.

According to his forecast, Uzbek flour exports will remain roughly at last year’s level in 2026, at 1.58 million tons (in fact, around 832.5 thousand tons have already been shipped to foreign markets in the first seven months of the year), 42% above the 2024 figure. The key market, accounting for more than 99% of the volume, is Afghanistan.

At the same time, the country remains heavily dependent on imported grain raw materials: despite the high harvest, wheat from Kazakhstan remains a key source of supply. In the first seven months of the year, grain imports from Kazakhstan already exceeded 3 million tons.

“Uzbekistan is strengthening the role of processing and exports, but remains dependent on imported wheat and a single key export market - Afghanistan,” A. Makhmudov noted.

Small volumes of Uzbek flour are also shipped to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Lithuania.