Kazakhstan increases import of second-hand clothes to Uzbekistan

Kazakhstan exported almost 50,000 tons of second-hand clothing, as the country is growing its export of used clothing, Tengrinews reports.

Reports show that the volume of recycled clothing sales in Kazakhstan has surged 60 times in recent years. More than 50,000 tons of old clothing, shoes, and accessories were exported in 2022. They are sold in tons, with one ton costing around $2000.

Tajikistan is reported to be the biggest buyer of Kazakh clothing. This country imports 98% of all secondhand clothing, with the rest being purchased in Uzbekistan.

Statistics state that the majority of second-hand consumer items imported into Kazakhstan come from European nations such as the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Finland, and Russia.In third-world countries, the benefits of secondhand textile exports are beneficial. For example, the Institute of Economic Affairs Kenya published a research in April 2021 that found the second-hand manufacturing sector to be critical to Kenya's economy, employing two million people directly and creating thousands of other jobs in sectors such as logistics. This increases private revenues and contributes to the country's high levels of poverty. It is estimated that 91.5% of Kenyan households buy second-hand clothes worth $8.22 or less, which accounts for roughly 2.5% of their income, allowing them to spend more on necessities such as housing, education, and food.