Tajikistan produced 7.3 million square meters of fabric in the first nine months of 2026, down 46.8% from the same period last year. Meanwhile, fabric imports rose by 38.2% and exports fell by 66.9%, according to official statistics.
Data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan show that cotton yarn production increased by 19.9% to 14,400 tons, while cotton fiber output fell by 17.4% to 34,800 tons.
According to the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, fabric imports rose from 14,500 tons to 20,100 tons. China supplied the bulk, at 17,200 tons, followed by Uzbekistan with about 1,900 tons and Türkiye with 752 tons.
Fabric exports fell from approximately 2,000 tons to 661 tons. Türkiye, Belarus and Poland remained the main destinations.
The decline in production was already apparent in the first half of 2026, when fabric output dropped by 37.7% to 6.1 million square meters. The latest figures indicate that the gap with last year’s production has widened further.
Industry faces equipment and financing problems
Tajikistan’s textile industry faces several challenges, including low-quality cotton fiber, outdated equipment, financial difficulties at enterprises and a shortage of skilled workers, according to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
At a summer press conference, Industry Minister Sherali Kabir said some cotton-ginning companies were buying second-hand equipment that could not ensure the required product quality. Of the country’s 126 cotton-ginning enterprises, only around 45 were capable of producing fiber that met quality standards, he said.
The ministry proposed conducting a technical audit to assess the condition of the facilities.
Kabir also said that 10 enterprises, primarily textile companies, had been transferred to the balance sheet of the Ministry of Finance after their former owners defaulted on bank debts. Authorities were preparing proposals to attract new owners and resume operations.
The minister linked the industry’s development to securing financing and implementing existing government programs.
Other challenges include high electricity tariffs, the lack of seasonal rates for textile enterprises, limited access to concessional loans and a shortage of qualified personnel, Khovar news agency reported, citing the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
Full-cycle production remains a priority
Despite these difficulties, Tajikistan has several enterprises that handle multiple stages of cotton processing.
They include Javoni in Khujand, which produces yarn, fabric and finished clothing, and Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) Juntai Danghara Sin Silu Textile in Danghara. Kabir has previously cited both companies as examples of integrated, full-cycle production.
Another textile complex is planned for Kulob with the participation of Russia’s BTK Group. According to announced plans, the project is expected to create around 10,000 jobs.