Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Onion production in Uzbekistan is expected to reach 1.5 million tonnes in 2026, exceeding domestic demand by 400,000 tonnes, or 35%, the Ministry of Agriculture said amid reports of rising onion prices circulating on social media.
The ministry explained that higher retail prices in some regions are linked to seasonal production patterns, transportation costs and markups imposed by intermediaries, which it estimates can reach 25–50%.
The ministry cited the situation in Surkhandarya Region as an example. During the first nine months of 2026, the region harvested 387,100 tonnes of onions. Of this volume, 120,000 tonnes were allocated for domestic consumption, 46,000 tonnes were exported, and the remainder was supplied to other regions of the country.
The onion harvest in Surkhandarya has now been completed. To supply the local market, businesses are purchasing onions in Jizzakh and Samarkand regions. Delivering one kilogram of the produce from those regions to Surkhandarya costs 350–370 soums.
The purchase price of onions in Jizzakh Region ranges from 2,600 to 3,300 soums per kilogram, while in Samarkand Region it stands at 2,800–3,000 soums. Including transportation costs, the delivered cost is 2,950–3,650 soums and 3,150–3,350 soums, respectively. For deliveries to Denau District, the figure reaches 3,400–3,500 soums.
Meanwhile, retail prices for onions in Surkhandarya markets are around 4,000–4,500 soums per kilogram. The ministry noted that in some cases the difference between the purchase price including delivery and the retail selling price reaches 52.5%.
According to the ministry, the average retail price of onions across Uzbekistan from November 2025 to October 2026 was 2,552 soums per kilogram.
The ministry also provided estimates of production costs. In 2026, the average yield is 35 tonnes per hectare, while the total cost of cultivating one hectare is estimated at 65.5 million soums. This puts the production cost at approximately 1.87 million soums per tonne.
To ensure supplies during the winter and spring of 2026–2027, the authorities plan to build up reserves of 102,800 tonnes of onions. Of this amount, 2,750 tonnes are earmarked for Surkhandarya Region.
Meanwhile, harvesting is continuing in Tashkent, Samarkand, Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions, as well as in the Ferghana Valley. The ministry believes that accumulated stocks can be supplied to the domestic market and sold at reduced prices through designated retail outlets.
The ministry also warned about the risk of artificial price increases and urged businesses not to withhold produce in anticipation of further price rises.
According to the ministry, prolonged storage can cause onions to lose weight and deteriorate in quality, ultimately resulting in financial losses for their owners.
