Stocks of sunflower oil are declining in Uzbekistan. The reduction is due to restrictions on sunflower oil trade within the Customs Union. In particular, there is a decrease in supplies from Kazakhstan and Russia. It is reported by ElDala.kz with reference to Oilworld.ru.
It is reported that in September-April 2021/22 MY, the supply of sunflower oil from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan amounted to only 38.6 thousand tons, which is 8% lower than the same indicator of the previous season (42.1 thousand tons). Deliveries from the Russian Federation decreased more significantly - by 69%, amounting to only 37.2 thousand tons in September-April of the current MY against 119.8 thousand tons in the same period of 2020/21 MY.
According to USDA analysts’ estimates in June, at the beginning of 2021/22 MY, sunflower oil reserves in Uzbekistan were at the level of 110 thousand tons, which is a record high and was formed due to active imports of products over the previous two seasons. At the same time, by the end of the current MY, sunflower oil reserves in Uzbekistan may be reduced by almost 4 times and reach 28 thousand tons, which is the minimum figure since 2017/18 MY.
In order to form the supply of sunflower oil on the Uzbek market in the new 2022/23 MY, at least to the level of the current MY, it is necessary to increase not only imports, but also domestic production of these products. According to USDA estimates, in the next season, domestic butter production in Uzbekistan may increase by 58% - up to 76,000 tons, and imports - by 33%, up to 200,000 tons.