SNAPSHOT OF THE CHEMICAL SECTOR

Chemical production in Uzbekistan has seen remarkable growth. The country's chemical sector primarily caters to the agricultural industry by supplying fertilizers and other  chemicals. It manufactures all three essential types of fertilizers-nitrogen, phosphorus, and  potassium-as well as methanol and caustic soda. Between 2017 and 2024, the sector's production output doubled (measured in UZS).

From 2020 to 2024, major enterprises in Uzbekistan boosted chemical production by 91.5%. In the past year, the country exported chemical products valued at $1.6 billion. In 2024, the production of plastic and rubber products reached $1.4 billion, marking a year- on-year growth of 60.3%. Since 2020, production volume has more than doubled, increasing by 2.5 times. Last year, Uzbekistan exported plastic products worth $31.8 million, contributing to the total $1.5 billion in chemical product exports.

There are abundant investment opportunities in both fertilizer and non-fertilizer chemical production. The manufacturing of fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) and non-fertilizer chemicals (plastics, rubber, detergents) can be expanded into the production of inorganic products such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic, and various chemical products including polystyrene, reagents, catalysts, and additives. These products could support key industries like metallurgy, oil and gas, and textiles.