the Kazakh Association of Cement and Concrete Producers (QazCem), claimed that the Uzbek cabinet issued a confidential order in July that disrupted the trade in imported cement from Kazakhstan. In an interview with Forbes Kazakhstan, he said the regulation had seriously affected bilateral trade between the two countries.
According to Akimbayev, the document stipulates that the price of cement imported from Kazakhstan should not be less than $300 per ton, although Kazakh producers usually sell it at around $30 per ton. He explained that the order required exporters to declare cement at $300 per ton and pay corresponding taxes accordingly, making exports unprofitable.
"As a result, in August, imports of Kazakh cement to Uzbekistan fell to zero for the first time in seven years," Akimbayev said. "At these prices, no one in Uzbekistan will buy. But if Uzbekistan continues to act in this way, Kazakhstan has the right to take corresponding retaliatory measures.
Unverified Order Raises Trade Tensions The head of QazCem noted that he had been unable to find the official order in open sources, but referred to a photograph of the document shown to him by a border customs official. He added that the association was already discussing the issue with relevant government departments and industry partners.
Akimbayev warned that such measures could lead to a reduction in imports from Uzbekistan if Astana (the capital of Kazakhstan) decides to take similar measures in response.
He also noted that although Kazakhstan has long been a major supplier of Uzbek cement, Uzbekistan is now trying to protect its domestic producers by "any means necessary" because of oversupply in the local market.
In addition, according to Kursiv, Kazakhstan plans to sign a long-term oil product supply agreement with Azerbaijan.