Uzbekistan has ramped up efforts to develop its poultry industry, targeting an ambitious expansion to become a self‑sufficient producer and eventual exporter. However, despite substantial policy support and financial incentives, the sector’s growth remains slower than expected.
Rising imports despite domestic targets
- From January to September 2025, Uzbekistan imported approximately 54,600 tonnes of poultry meat—a 14.2% increase over the previous year.
- This surge in imports shows that domestic production remains insufficient, even as the government pursues its target of boosting output to 1 million tonnes in 2025—up from about 800,000 tonnes in 2024.
Limited growth in domestic output
By October 1, Uzbekistan’s poultry population reached around 110 million birds, marking an 8.7% year‑on‑year increase. Yet, total poultry and meat production registered only a modest 2.7% rise, reaching about 2.17 million tonnes. While egg production grew by 6.2% to 6.7 billion pieces, this figure still lags behind the government’s aggressive ambition of 10.5 billion.
Export aspirations still out of reach
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev set a goal to generate US $180 million in poultry export revenue by 2025. Although export restrictions were lifted in July 2024 to stimulate overseas shipments, official export data for 2025 remains unavailable—and likely minimal, given persistent domestic shortfalls.
Strong government support
To underpin the sector, Uzbekistan has introduced several incentive schemes:
- A 50% reimbursement of VAT on inputs for all poultry farms since April 2025.
- A US $50 million financial support package to assist producers, especially smallholders.
These measures aim to foster job creation (up to one million new roles, primarily in backyard and independent farms), and promote consolidation of fragmented operations through cooperation between large and small producers.
Structural challenges and bottlenecks
Despite policies and investment, several constraints are limiting faster progress:
- Genetic and breeding infrastructure gaps: Lack of a domestic primary breeder means dependence on imports for quality breeding stock.
- Feed and pasture limitations: Insufficient pasture management, water resources, and absence of digital pasture leasing systems hinder scale expansion.
- Infrastructure underdevelopment: Cluster and processing capacity initiatives are in progress, but large‑scale hatcheries, feed mills, and slaughter facilities are still emerging.
Outlook and future prospects
Uzbekistan’s poultry sector is on a steady growth path—with consistent rises in flock size, output, and egg production—yet it continues to fall short of ambitious targets. Structural reforms, from genetic programs to feed infrastructure and farm consolidation, remain essential.
If implemented effectively, ongoing government incentives and cluster developments could accelerate production, reduce imports, and enable Uzbekistan to transform into a regional poultry exporter by 2025 and beyond.
Sources: Available upon request