Uzbekistan plans to increase textile production by 10% and boost textile and apparel exports by 32% in 2026, according to updates presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a recent industry review meeting. The briefing highlighted strong sector performance in 2025 and outlined priority tasks to accelerate growth next year, the presidential press service reported.
Strong 2025 Performance Sets Foundation for Expansion
In 2025, Uzbekistan’s textile sector achieved:
- 134 trillion soum in production output
- $2.1 billion in foreign investment utilization
- $2.5 billion in export revenue
Building on this momentum, the government aims to raise production to 147 trillion soum and exports to $3.3 billion in 2026. Foreign investment inflows are expected to reach $2.2 billion.
Major Capacity Expansion Planned
The targets for 2026 include creating additional capacity to produce:
- 207,000 tonnes of synthetic and blended yarn
- 397 million square meters of fabrics
- 224 million units of apparel and knitwear
These expansions aim to further deepen cotton processing and improve capacity utilization across fabric, knitwear and finished product lines.
Key Challenges Identified
Despite strong growth, several obstacles continue to hinder sustainable development:
- Partial reliance on imported cotton fiber
- High cost of financial resources
- Rising logistics expenses in international markets
- Shortage of qualified specialists in several industry segments
Also Read: Uzbekistan’s Textile Exports Reach $1.7 Billion in First Eight Months of 2025
Comprehensive Measures Introduced for 2026
To address these issues, the government has approved a wide-ranging support package:
- $200 million in preferential loans for working capital
- Financial restructuring for 138 enterprises
- Support for 100 additional companies to join export activities
- Introduction of international standards and certifications across the sector
- Establishment of a modern textile laboratory capable of analyzing product quality across 24 parameters
Digital Transformation and International Integration
Uzbekistan will accelerate digitalization through the introduction of ERP systems and artificial intelligence in 40 enterprises to enhance production efficiency and improve operational management.
On the global front, the country plans to strengthen cooperation with international sourcing firms and major brands, expand participation in global marketing research and textile exhibitions, and encourage the relocation of foreign enterprises to Uzbekistan.
With these measures, Uzbekistan aims to position itself as a competitive, technology-driven textile hub capable of meeting global demand while advancing higher-value production and export diversification.
