Import of raw materials for sugar increased up to 165 times in Q1 2019

In January-April 2019, Uzbekistan imported raw materials for sugar worth $66.1 million, follows from the data of the State Statistics Committee. It is also clarified that this is 165 times more compared to the same period last year.

Apparently, the import of raw materials for sugar has been growing steadily since the beginning of the year. So, for example, in January it amounted to $23.3 million, in January-February - $38.9 million, in January-March - $54.5 million.

In addition, the import of finished sugar continues to decline - this trend began at the beginning of the year. For comparison, Uzbekistan in the first quarter bought foreign sugar for $21.7 million. This is almost 84% less than in the first quarter of last year.

At the same time, Uzbekistan ceased to be the main importer of Ukrainian sugar - if last year the country bought up to 90% of all exports of Ukrainian sugar, now it is 10-15%.

Such a significant increase in imports of raw materials for sugar with a simultaneous reduction in purchases of finished sugar is due to the fact that Uzbekistan has relied on its own production.

It should be noted that at the beginning of the year, the country reduced the privilege on the import of sugar and extended it to domestic producers.