Uzbekistan's pulp market has an import dependency exceeding 80%, with annual consumption of about 180,000-220,000 tonnes. In H1 2026, BHKP CIF prices remained in the 580-650 USD/tonne range. Russia accounts for about 55% of total imports. Packaging paper demand growth reaches 8%-10% per year. Domestic capacity expansion is slow, widening the supply-demand gap. Key risks include exchange rate fluctuations and global pulp price cycles.
Source: State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, Fastmarkets RISI, date: June 2026 / previous values used
Uzbekistan's annual pulp capacity is about 35,000-45,000 tonnes, mainly cotton linter pulp and recycled pulp. Annual consumption is 180,000-220,000 tonnes, with a deficit of about 150,000-180,000 tonnes met by imports. By consumption structure, packaging paper accounts for about 48%, tissue about 30%, and printing & writing paper about 22%.
| Indicator | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic output (10k t) | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
| Imports (10k t) | 14.5 | 15.8 | 16.5 |
| Consumption (10k t) | 17.7 | 19.6 | 20.6 |
| Import dependency | 82% | 81% | 80% |
Source: State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, FAO Forestry Statistics, date: June 2026 (partially using previous values)
In June 2026, China's spot softwood pulp (BSKP) prices fluctuated in the 5,600-6,100 CNY/tonne range, with hardwood pulp at 4,800-5,300 CNY/tonne. Domestic pulp capacity utilization was about 78%, while imports remained high. The SHFE pulp futures main contract traded between 5,600-5,900 CNY/tonne.
Source: SunSirs pulp price monitoring, SCI99, date: June 30, 2026
Uzbekistan's pulp market is highly import-dependent, with Russia as the largest supplier at about 55%, followed by China (approx. 18%) and Kazakhstan (approx. 10%). Local CIF Tashkent prices for BHKP are about 610-670 USD/tonne, a premium of 8%-12% over Chinese ports, with logistics costs being a key factor.
| Origin Country | Share | Main Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | approx. 55% | BHKP, BSKP |
| China | approx. 18% | Recycled pulp, BCTMP |
| Kazakhstan | approx. 10% | Mixed pulp, recovered pulp |
| Others | approx. 17% | Turkey, Europe, etc. |
Source: Uzbekistan Customs data, local trader feedback, date: June 2026 (previous values used)
Uzbekistan's pulp imports are mainly bleached hardwood kraft pulp (BHKP), accounting for about 45% of total imports; bleached softwood kraft pulp (BSKP) about 20%; recycled pulp about 25%; and BCTMP about 10%. Hardwood pulp is mainly used for packaging board and tissue production.
| Segment | Import Share | CIF Price Range (USD/tonne) |
|---|---|---|
| Bleached Hardwood Kraft (BHKP) | approx. 45% | 580-650 |
| Bleached Softwood Kraft (BSKP) | approx. 20% | 680-750 |
| Recycled pulp / recovered pulp | approx. 25% | 280-380 |
| BCTMP | approx. 10% | 420-500 |
Source: Fastmarkets RISI, Uzbekistan Customs statistics, date: June 2026
Uzbekistan's core finished paper products are corrugated board/packaging paper, with annual output of about 120,000-140,000 tonnes and demand of about 200,000-220,000 tonnes, resulting in a gap of about 80,000 tonnes met by finished paper imports. Tissue output is roughly 50,000-60,000 tonnes, largely self-sufficient. Packaging board prices in H1 2026 were about 820-950 USD/tonne.
Source: Uzbekistan Paper Association, local market research, date: June 2026 (previous values used)
China-region BHKP ex-factory prices are about 4,200-4,600 CNY/tonne, while the intended CIF price for Uzbekistan imports is about 610-670 USD/tonne (equivalent to approx. 4,400-4,850 CNY/tonne). Logistics costs account for about 18%-22% of landed cost, mainly rail transport via Kazakhstan. Local cotton linter pulp costs about 380-450 USD/tonne.
Source: SunSirs, SCI99, Uzbekistan Logistics Association, date: June 2026
Uzbekistan's GDP growth in 2025 was about 5.8%, with the paper and paper products sector contributing about 1.2% of manufacturing. Total pulp and paper imports in 2025 were about 280-320 million USD. The Som/USD exchange rate is about 12,600:1, with manageable fluctuation. The government encourages foreign investment in the paper industry and offers tax incentives.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| GDP growth rate | 5.8% | 2025 |
| Pulp/paper import value | 280-320 million USD | 2025 |
| Exchange rate (Som/USD) | approx. 12,600 | June 2026 |
| Paper industry share | approx. 1.2% | 2025 |
Source: World Bank, Central Bank of Uzbekistan, Customs statistics, date: June 2026
Risks Global pulp price cycle volatility, geopolitical impact on Russian supply, Som exchange rate fluctuations, and logistics bottlenecks (Kazakhstan transit) are the main risks. Opportunities lie in Uzbekistan's localization substitution policy push, rapid packaging paper demand growth, and deepening China-Uzbekistan bilateral economic and trade cooperation; foreign-invested paper projects can enjoy 5-7 years of tax incentives.
Source: Ministry of Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan, World Bank Doing Business report, date: June 2026