Uzbekistan’s textile industry faces slowdown amid falling cotton prices

Uzbekistan has launched 396 large textile enterprises worth $3.5 billion over the past five years, generating $10 billion in output and employing about 500,000 people, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a government meeting on industry development.

Speaking on the sector’s performance, Mirziyoyev noted that production and exports have slowed in recent months, citing global economic and political headwinds. He stressed the need for measures to sustain output and protect jobs, Caliber.Az reports via Uzbek media. 

A sharp drop in global cotton prices is compounding the industry’s challenges. Over the past three years, prices have fallen from $3,000 to $1,500 per tonne, putting pressure on production clusters. The president said the downturn in prices began well before current geopolitical tensions and called on the economic authorities to prepare multiple scenarios in coordination with scientific institutions.

The meeting follows recent investment in the sector, including the opening of an $11 million textile plant in Nurafshan.

By Sabina Mammadli