In the first half of 2025, Tajikistan saw a significant increase in the production of food products, including confectionery, salt, and alcoholic beverages, with growth rates of 39.6%, 38%, and 33.9%, respectively. At the same time, food product exports also showed an uptick, particularly in dried fruits and non-alcoholic beverages, which made up the majority of exports, reaching a total of US$28.3 million.
According to the Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Sherali Kabir, the total output of food products in Tajikistan for the first half of 2025 amounted to 4.8 billion somonis, representing a 108% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Leaders in production: desserts, salt, and vodka
The food industry has seen steady growth since 2018, when production amounted to 5.1 billion somonis. By 2024, this figure had risen to 11.4 billion somonis. In the first half of 2025, 48 new enterprises were established in the food industry, creating 277 new jobs. Currently, more than 850 enterprises operate in the sector.
The Ministry of Industry reported that production volumes in the food industry grew in the following categories during the first half of 2025:
- Confectionery: +39.6%
- Salt extraction: +38%
- Alcoholic beverages: +33.9%
- Non-alcoholic beverages: +24.2%
- Pasta: +17.7%
- Wheat flour: +15.9%
- Dried fruits: +15.1%
- Milk: +12.2%
- Rice: +4.9%
- Sausages: +3.6%
- Meat: +3.1%
- Canned vegetables and fruits: +2.4%
- Bakery products: +2.2%
Improved supply of locally produced goods
The availability of locally produced food products for the domestic market continues to improve. The share of domestic production in various categories is as follows:
- Non-alcoholic beverages: 95.6%
- Meat: 82.1%
- Flour: 92.5%
- Dairy products: 66%
- Confectionery: 66.4%
- Pasta: 50.4%
- Vegetable oil: 16.5%
Tajikistan earns over US$28 million from food exports
The creation of new production facilities and the continued growth in exports to the CIS, the US, and Europe have played a key role in this success. In the first half of 2024, food product exports amounted to US$27.3 million. By the same period in 2025, exports to countries such as Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Germany, China, Uzbekistan, and Georgia increased to US$28.3 million, marking a 3.7% increase or an additional $1 million.
During this period, Tajikistan exported 45,100 tons of dried fruits, 16,200 tons of non-alcoholic beverages, 200 tons of food industry waste, 185 tons of salt, 1,700 tons of canned vegetables and fruits, 140 tons of confectionery, 496 tons of gelatin, and 1,300 tons of wheat flour.
