Uzbekistan experienced a significant 43.5% decrease in the exchange sale of cement in 2023, UZEX News reported. The data, covering the period from January to December 2023, reveals a total volume of cement sales through exchange trading at the Uzbek Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange, amounting to slightly over 3.9 mn tons.
Despite the overall decline, Akhangarancement emerged as the market leader in 2023, securing a substantial 24% share. Qizilqumsement claimed the second position, though its market share decreased from 40% to 20%. Bekabadcement and Kuvasaycement held 1% each, respectively.
Cement prices were subject to the laws of supply and demand. From January to June, prices rose from UZS 613,500 ($49.84) to UZS 661,900 ($53.78) per ton, reaching UZS 683,200 ($55.51) in August. However, as the construction season concluded and demand dwindled from September to December 2023, prices decreased from UZS 672,300 ($54.62) to UZS 583,500 ($47.41) per ton.
Tashkent and its surrounding region exhibited the highest demand for cement, capturing a combined share of 34%. Surkhandarya region followed with 16%, Jizzakh region with 11%, Samarkand region with 10%, and Kashkadarya region with 9% of the market.
Notably, significant changes in excise tax rates on limestone for cement production were implemented in Uzbekistan. The amendment, outlined in the legislation associated with the main directions of tax and budget policy for 2024, witnessed a substantial reduction. Initially proposed to decrease from UZS 22,500 ($1.01) to UZS 11,250 ($0.91) per ton, the final amendment resulted in a more substantial reduction to UZS 6,000 ($0.48) per ton, signifying a 50% reduction from the original proposal.
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