Uzbekistan’s textile export sector saw a notable decline during the first eleven months of 2025, as shipments of upstream products weakened while finished apparel continued to gain momentum in global markets.
Data from the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan shows that textile and garment exports reached approximately US $2.27 billion between January and November 2025, reflecting a 14.6 per cent year-on-year drop compared with the same period in 2024. The sector accounted for around 7.3 per cent of the country’s total exports.
Lower demand for yarn and fabrics drove the overall decline, as international buyers adjusted sourcing strategies amid subdued global conditions and growing competition from larger regional suppliers. Export values for intermediate textile products fell sharply during the period.
In contrast, apparel and finished textile products recorded strong growth, highlighting Uzbekistan’s strategic shift towards higher value-added manufacturing. Finished garments represented 51.6 per cent of total textile and garment exports, while yarn accounted for 28.4 per cent and knitted fabrics for 11 per cent.
Industry observers link this trend to sustained policy support and private investment aimed at expanding domestic garment production, improving quality standards, and strengthening integration with global apparel supply chains. Finished apparel continues to offer higher margins and greater resilience than raw or semi-processed textile products.
Despite the contraction in textile exports, Uzbekistan’s broader trade performance remained positive. Total exports reached about US $30.9 billion during January–November 2025, marking a 26.2 per cent increase year-on-year, while total foreign trade turnover rose to approximately US $72.8 billion.
Stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic, citing the growing share of apparel exports as a key driver of more stable and sustainable growth for Uzbekistan’s textile industry in the medium term.
