A Chance Not to Be Missed
Markets in Central Asia — such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan — are increasingly opening up to products from Europe. Among them, Polish food is gaining growing interest due to its high quality, taste, and competitive pricing.
Why does Polish food attract attention?
Polish food products are perceived as:
- natural and safe, complying with strict European quality standards,
- tasty and culturally familiar – for example, dairy, meat products, baked goods, and fruit or vegetable preserves appeal to the tastes of local consumers,
- affordable – especially when compared to Western European brands from Germany, Italy, or France.
In countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, consumers are actively seeking imported alternatives to local goods, which are often less diverse.
What sells well?
High-potential categories include:
- sweets and snacks – bars, cookies, wafers, gummies,
- dairy – hard and processed cheeses, UHT yogurts,
- breakfast products – cereals, muesli, canned meat and fish,
- fruit and vegetable preserves – jams, juices, pickled products,
- organic and gluten-free items – a niche but fast-growing segment.
Export Challenges
Although demand is rising, exporting food to Central Asia requires an understanding of market specifics:
- Phytosanitary and veterinary documentation – mandatory certificates and translations,
- Customs and regulatory differences – certain food items face extra restrictions, especially when transiting through Russia,
- Product adaptation – labeling in Russian/Uzbek/ Kazakh, and packaging tailored to local preferences.
How to enter the market?
The key to success lies in:
- A reliable local partner – an importer, distributor, or retail chain with experience,
- Door-to-door logistics – a trusted transport company that understands customs clearance and regional logistics,
- Trade fair presence – e.g., UzFood (Tashkent), KazAgroFood (Almaty), Central Asia Beauty (for food-cosmetics cross categories).
Polish food products have significant export potential in Central Asia – especially if we combine quality with good pricing and plan local partnerships and logistics carefully.
At Trade Connect Group, we support producers at every stage – from export formalities and choosing the best transport routes to market consulting and building local presence in Central Asia. Looking to expand into Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan?
Contact us – we’ll help you plan a successful market entry.
