Market
Almonds in Uzbekistan are a domestically produced tree-nut crop with active cross-border trade in both directions, including imports into Uzbekistan and exports from Uzbekistan under HS 080212 (shelled almonds). Uzbekistan is also a double-landlocked country, so almond trade logistics typically depend on overland and corridor-based multimodal transport through neighboring states. Samarkand Region is a documented origin/processing area for mountain/heritage almonds and for export-oriented dried fruit and nut processing. Plant quarantine and phytosanitary controls are handled by Uzbekistan’s Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection, which issues quarantine permits and phytosanitary certificates as part of regulated plant-product movements.
Market RoleProducer with two-way trade (imports and exports)
Risks
Food Safety HighAflatoxin contamination is a critical trade-blocking risk for almonds/tree nuts, potentially triggering consignment rejection, intensified border controls, and recalls in sensitive markets; robust pre-shipment sampling/testing and storage controls are essential.Implement an aflatoxin control plan aligned to Codex guidance for tree nuts (pre-harvest pest/damage control, dry-chain storage, representative sampling/testing, and segregation of suspect lots).
Regulatory Compliance MediumMissing or inconsistent quarantine permits and phytosanitary documentation can result in detention, withdrawal, or return/destruction of regulated plant-product consignments at the border.Confirm quarantine permit and phytosanitary certificate requirements per shipment and align consignee documentation checklists before dispatch.
Climate MediumWater scarcity and irrigation-system constraints in Uzbekistan can raise production and processing costs and increase supply volatility for orchard crops in drought years.Diversify sourcing regions/suppliers, evaluate irrigation resilience, and incorporate drought-year contingency volumes and quality specifications in contracts.
Logistics MediumUzbekistan’s double-landlocked position increases exposure to corridor disruptions, border delays, and transit-cost volatility, which can affect lead times and delivered cost for almond shipments.Use route and carrier diversification, build buffer lead times, and agree clear Incoterms and demurrage/border-delay clauses in contracts.
Sustainability- Water scarcity and irrigation dependence in agriculture (system-level risk affecting orchard crops in arid regions).
- Climate variability and drought risk affecting agricultural productivity and input costs (water, energy for pumping).
Labor & Social- Uzbekistan’s agriculture sector has a documented legacy controversy around state-imposed forced labor in cotton; the ILO reported the eradication of systemic forced and child labor in the 2021 cotton harvest and the Cotton Campaign lifted its global boycott in March 2022, but responsible sourcing and worker-rights due diligence remains a reputational and compliance expectation.
FAQ
Is Uzbekistan only an importer of almonds, or does it also export them?It does both. UN Comtrade data (via the World Bank WITS portal) shows shelled almond (HS 080212) exports from Uzbekistan to partners such as Turkey and the EU in 2023, and it also shows imports of the same product into Uzbekistan in 2023 from suppliers such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
Which HS code is commonly used for shelled almonds in trade statistics for Uzbekistan?Shelled almonds are commonly tracked under HS 080212 (with in-shell almonds under HS 080211), per UN Statistics Division HS classification references.
What documents are typically required to import almonds into Uzbekistan under plant quarantine controls?Published border-crossing guidance indicates imports of plant quarantine-controlled products are allowed on the basis of a quarantine permit and a phytosanitary certificate issued by the authorized body of the exporting country; missing documents can lead to detention or withdrawal of the consignment.