2024, the customs authorities of Uzbekistan raised the customs clearance fee for imported cement from Tajikistan from $35 per ton to $300 per ton. According to sources, the price increase may be driven by Uzbek cement manufacturers. The source said, "On October 16, a meeting was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, attended by cement manufacturing enterprises.". The meeting discussed the development of the cement industry in Uzbekistan, pricing policy and the possibility of forming a cartel.
In 2020, the Uzbek government announced a temporary ban on cement imports from May 1 to the end of the year, but the restriction was lifted three weeks later. There are 30 cement manufacturing enterprises in Uzbekistan, and many factories are in the process of construction or modernization. Once these plants are completed and put into operation, they may lead to a complete ban on cement imports in Uzbekistan.
At present, Uzbekistan's annual cement demand is about 2.2 million tons, and Tajikistan is its main supplier of cement. It is reported that from January to September 2024, the total cement export volume of Tajikistan will reach about 532,000 tons, with a year-on-year decrease of 250,000 tons; the export amount will be about USD 21 million, with a year-on-year decrease of USD 7.8 million. About 57% of the cement was sold to Afghanistan (more than 300,000 tons) and the remaining 43% to Uzbekistan (more than 230,000 tons). There are 15 cement plants in
Tajikistan, with a total capacity of 5.5 million tons. Among them, 5 are located in Khatlon Oblast, 6 are located in Sughd Oblast, 3 are located in the central district, and 1 is located in Dushanbe City. Cement is one of Tajikistan's main exports. Since 2018, Tajikistan has ranked fifth in Uzbekistan's total foreign trade. Over the past six years, Tajikistan's merchandise exports to Uzbekistan have increased from $132 million in 2018 to $353 million in 2023. However, the success of Tajikistan's industry has raised concerns among ecologists that an excessive increase in cement production could cause irreparable damage to the country's environment.