Did the canceled duties on imports of 36 products change prices?

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently confirmed that by 2024 there will be a zero rate on imports of 36 types of food and goods by 2024.

In order to study the practical reflection of the measures envisaged in this document, PMTI experts analyzed the situation with price changes.

The prices of national supermarkets were taken as the basis for the analysis, since they are duty payers and are mainly official suppliers.

In particular, statistics on 3120 consumer goods of 96 types were loaded by “data cleaning”. Prices for each type of product were compared at the end of February and March.

As a result, it was known that the reduction in customs tariffs resulted in a corresponding fall in some prices.

In particular, chocolate products fell by an average of 463 UZS, canned vegetables and fruits - by 802 UZS, canned meat - by 1164 UZS, beef - by 375 UZS, waffle sweets - by 415 UZS, cheese - by 275 UZS.

There have been no changes in prices for other types of products for which customs duties have been reduced.

In particular, prices for dairy products, shaving products, cereals, yogurt, cream, cottage cheese, have not changed. Prices for hair rinses, tea and coffee, vegetables, jams and sauces have risen slightly.

According to analysts, this situation can be explained either by the strong influence of duty-free factors of import inflation, or by the fact that demand for many of these goods is met by domestic production.

“Accordingly, it becomes important that further measures to ensure price stability are aimed at developing a competitive environment,” the experts say.