Uzbekistan: onion crop of 1.5 million tonnes, 400,000 tonnes above domestic demand; production cost about 1.87 million soums (≈ $156) per tonne

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture says the 2026 onion crop will reach 1.5 million tonnes, which is 400,000 tonnes, or 35%, above domestic demand. The statement was published on November 5, 2026, amid reports of rising prices, and was carried by UzDaily.

Key figures

• Onions: 1.5 million t
• Above demand: 400,000 t
• Yield: 35 t/ha
• Cost: 65.5 million soums/ha
• Winter reserve: 102,800 t

What changed

The ministry issued the statement amid social media reports of rising onion prices. It attributes higher retail prices in some regions to the seasonal pattern of production, transportation costs and intermediary markups, which it estimates at 25-50%. The ministry warned of the risk of artificial price increases and urged businesses not to hold produce in anticipation of further rises: during long storage onions lose weight and quality, and owners take losses. According to the ministry, accumulated stocks can be sold domestically at reduced prices through designated retail outlets.

The numbers

Key figures from the ministry's statement:

• 2026 crop forecast: 1.5 million t; excess over domestic demand: 400,000 t (35%)
• Average yield: 35 t/ha; cost to grow one hectare: 65.5 million soums (≈ $5,450); production cost: about 1.87 million soums (≈ $156) per tonne
• Average retail price nationwide from November 2025 to October 2026: 2,552 soums (≈ $0.21) per kg
• Surkhandarya Region: 387,100 t harvested (January-September), of which 120,000 t for domestic consumption and 46,000 t for export, the rest supplied to other regions; local retail price is 4,000-4,500 soums (≈ $0.33-0.37) per kg
• Purchase price in Jizzakh Region: 2,600-3,300 soums (≈ $0.22-0.27) per kg; in Samarkand: 2,800-3,000 soums (≈ $0.23-0.25)
• Reserve for winter and spring 2026-2027: 102,800 t

What it means for the buyer

For a vegetable grower in Uzbekistan the statement is a guide to the economics of the crop. At a yield of 35 t/ha and a cost of 65.5 million soums (≈ $5,450) per hectare, the production cost is about 1,870 soums per kg, while the purchase prices the ministry quotes are 2,600-3,300 soums in Jizzakh Region and 2,800-3,000 in Samarkand. The ministry says supply exceeds demand by 400,000 t and warns that onions lose weight and quality in long storage. If you are working out the payback on vegetable equipment, base it on these figures rather than retail prices, and when buying used machinery from the USA, add delivery as a separate line.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan (via UzDaily), November 5, 2026