Market
Fresh licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) in Uzbekistan is closely tied to the Aral Sea region ecology, where natural stands occur in the Amudarya delta (Karakalpakstan, Khorezm) and other river-associated zones. Commercial supply chains in Uzbekistan commonly go beyond fresh roots into cleaned/cut root forms and industrial processing into thick extract and crude glycyrrhizinic acid (CGA) for export. Uzbekistan’s role is therefore primarily as an origin and processor for licorice root-based botanical inputs rather than a consumer retail market. The largest structural constraint is sustainability: published research describes major contraction of wild licorice habitats in Karakalpakstan due to over-exploitation, which can directly disrupt supply and trigger tighter control of harvesting and sourcing.
Market RoleProducer and exporter of licorice root and licorice-derived extracts
Domestic RoleBotanical raw material used in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and industrial applications; also positioned as a cash crop option for salt-affected lands in the Aral Sea region
Risks
Sustainability HighDeal-breaker risk: published research on the Aral Sea region reports that wild licorice habitats in Karakalpakstan have sharply contracted over time due to over-exploitation (with a large decline in reported natural habitat area), creating a material risk of supply disruption and tighter controls on harvesting/sourcing for export-grade roots.Prioritize suppliers with documented legal collection permissions and traceability; increase procurement from cultivated plantations on saline/degraded lands; require sustainability management plans for wild-harvest material.
Climate HighThe Aral Sea region context includes severe environmental degradation and increasing soil salinity and drought pressure, which can disrupt licorice cultivation/collection zones and complicate consistent supply planning.Diversify sourcing across multiple Uzbek regions (not only Karakalpakstan/Khorezm); maintain inventory buffers; evaluate cultivation-based supply where feasible.
Labor And Human Rights MediumUzbekistan’s agricultural sector carries heightened buyer scrutiny due to the country’s cotton forced-labor history; while major reforms are documented, independent monitoring continues to flag remaining risks, which can trigger enhanced due diligence requirements for any agricultural-origin product, including botanicals.Implement supplier labor due diligence (contracts, recruitment/pay practices, grievance channels) and require credible third-party social compliance verification where available.
Food Safety MediumResearch describing the Aral Sea region highlights salinization and contamination concerns (including heavy metals in the environment), which can translate into heightened buyer testing expectations for botanical roots and extracts.Use accredited labs for contaminant and residue testing aligned to destination-market requirements; maintain chain-of-custody and batch-level COAs.
Logistics MediumUzbekistan’s landlocked geography makes fresh, bulky root shipments especially sensitive to inland transport time, border delays, and freight-rate volatility; this can erode margins and increase spoilage/quality-loss risk versus shipping stabilized forms (dried/cut root or extracts).Prefer shipping stabilized processed forms when acceptable to buyers; plan multimodal routes with buffer time; use pre-clearance documentation checks and temperature/quality controls where fresh shipments are unavoidable.
Sustainability- Over-harvesting and habitat contraction risk for wild licorice in Karakalpakstan and the Amudarya delta
- Aral Sea region land degradation (soil salinity, desertification, drought) affecting agricultural sustainability and supply stability
- Shift toward cultivation on saline/degraded lands as a mitigation and restoration pathway
Labor & Social- Uzbekistan has a well-documented historical forced-labor controversy in the cotton sector; systemic state-imposed forced labor was reported as eradicated in the 2021 cycle by the ILO and civil-society monitoring, but independent monitors continue to report residual risks and potential relapse in subsequent harvests.
- For licorice root supply chains (including wild collection and contracted harvesting), buyers may still require labor due diligence (recruitment practices, grievance mechanisms, freedom of association) given the country’s recent labor-rights history.
FAQ
Where are the main licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) production/collection areas in Uzbekistan?Published research on the Aral Sea region identifies natural licorice areas in the Amudarya delta (Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm), in Syrdarya-associated areas, and along smaller rivers including parts of the Fergana Valley and Surkhandarya.
What is the biggest risk that could block or disrupt Uzbekistan licorice root supply for export?Over-exploitation of wild licorice is the most critical risk: research reports major contraction of natural licorice habitats in Karakalpakstan over time, creating supply disruption risk and increasing the importance of legal-harvest controls and cultivation-based alternatives.
Which HS heading commonly covers licorice root in international trade classification?Licorice root falls under HS heading 1211 for “plants and parts of plants … used primarily in perfumery or pharmacy … fresh or dried,” with licorice roots appearing under subheadings within 1211 in both UN HS references and Uzbekistan’s TN VED/HS documentation.
Is a phytosanitary certificate typically relevant for exporting licorice root?Yes. IPPC guidance (ISPM 12) describes phytosanitary certificates as the standard instrument used in international trade to attest that plant products meet importing-country phytosanitary requirements, and Uzbekistan maintains a national plant quarantine authority responsible for plant quarantine control.