BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 10
By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:
Uzbekistan reduced cement imports in the first half of 2020 by 55.8 percent compared to the same period last year to 813,000 tons, Trend reports citing nuz.uz news agency.
In total, Uzbekistan imported $37.5 million worth of cement in the first half of 2020, 57.1 percent lower than in the first half of 2019.
Uzbekistan produced 4.7 million tons of Portland cement in the first half of 2020, which is 0.1 percent more than in the first half of 2019.
In 1H2020, Uzbekistan imported 813,000 tons of cement products, which is 56 percent less than in the first half of 2019 (1.8 million tons).
Earlier, Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on measures to simplify the procedure for importing cement and to ensure the domestic market with quality cement.
According to the document, it will be possible to provide the imported cement to the local markets within 1-2 days, instead of 28, as it was previously.
Previously, the Uzbek government exempted imported building materials from customs duties to boost construction work countrywide.
Currently, six large and 19 smaller cement enterprises with a total capacity of 11.1 million tons are operating in Uzbekistan. The largest of them are: JSC Kyzylkumcement (3.1 million tons), JSC Ahangarancement (2.2 million tons) and the Sherabad Cement Plant (1.5 million tons).
The government of Uzbekistan set a task for Ozsanoatqurilishmateriallari Joint Stock Company (Uzbek major producer of construction materials) to bring the production to 10 trillion soum ($984.9 million) in the first half of the year, and 22 trillion soum ($2.1 billion) by the end of the year. It was entrusted to expand production to substitute import of construction materials.
Uzbekistan has 275 promising deposits of necessary raw materials, and 14 projects worth $52 million are being implemented in Gazgan settlement of Nurata district.
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