Potatoes imported to Uzbekistan begin to rot at the border

A shipment of potatoes from the Kazakh city of Pavlodar began to rot after being detained at the Uzbek border for 10 days for inspection, according to KTK.

The source reports that 43 wagons loaded with potatoes were halted at the Saryagoch station. In January, entrepreneurs sold the potatoes to buyers in Uzbekistan, and the cargo was sent to the border. However, the shipment was delayed for phytosanitary inspection, leaving the vegetables sitting in the wagons for over 10 days. As a result, the potatoes froze, thawed, and began to rot.

One of the affected entrepreneurs, Nursultan Ormanov, revealed that 3 of the 43 wagons belonged to him, resulting in a loss of 60 million tenge (approximately 1.5 billion Uzbek sums) due to the rotting potatoes. The documents for the export were issued in mid-January, prior to the export ban.

"There are 68 tons in one wagon, but it can no longer be used! Such potatoes cannot even be fed to animals," said another entrepreneur, Azamat Serikbayev.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan clarified that the wagons had passed the required inspections, and no obstacles were found for their continued transit.

"As of today, the inspection has been completed. The necessary information has been determined. There are no obstacles to the further movement of the wagons. Therefore, 43 wagons intended for export can now cross the border," said Yerbol Taszhurekov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.

Despite this, the entrepreneurs are not satisfied with the delayed permits and intend to sue the officials responsible for the losses.

It should be noted that on January 28, 2025, Kazakhstan introduced a ban on potato exports to third countries. This restriction does not apply to member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), meaning exports to these countries will continue. The decision, signed by the Minister of Agriculture on January 27, is set to remain in effect for six months. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, wholesale potato prices in the country increased by 12.9% from January 1 to January 20, 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                 Sara Komiljonova