TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 20. Uzbekistan imported beverages and tobacco worth $33 million from January through February 2024, Trend reports.
According to the data from Uzbekistan’s Statistics Agency, this indicator shows an 84.3 percent increase compared to the same period last year ($17.9 million).
The beverages amount to $22.5 million from January through February 2024, which is more than 95.6 percent year-on-year ($11.5 million).
At the same time, the volume of tobacco imports reached $10.5 million during this period. This figure is 64 percent more than the previous year ($6.4 million).
Furthermore, the total volume of beverage and tobacco imports amounted to $191.6 million in 2023. The imports of beverages totaled $130,2 million, while the imports of tobacco products totaled $61.3 million.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health proposes to ban the circulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and liquids for them, including electronic cigarettes as well as tobacco heating systems.
The Ministry of Health also proposes to introduce administrative and criminal liability for violation of this ban—a fine in the amount of $1,000 to five years of imprisonment.