2025 Uzbekistan Iron Rods (HS 721049) Export: Market Collapse

Key Takeaways

Iron Rods, classified under HS Code 721049, exhibited extreme volatility from January to November 2025.

• Market Pulse: Exports surged to $37.44M in July before collapsing to $57.09K by November, reflecting a front-loaded response to Uzbekistan’s new export duties.
• Structural Shift: Uzbekistan Iron Rods Export relies on Russia for 83% of value, with 98% of revenue tied to High-Volume Repeaters—a high-concentration risk.
• Product Logic: HS Code 721049 trade data shows a single low-value product (zinc-coated steel at $1.09/kg), indicating a bulk-commodity market driven by cost efficiency.

This overview covers the period from January to November 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Uzbekistan Iron Rods (HS Code 721049) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Uzbekistan Iron Rods Export trend showed explosive growth through mid-2025 before collapsing in the final quarter. Total export value surged from $298.84K in January to a peak of $37.44M in July, while export weight climbed from 341.27K kg to 22.88M kg over the same period. Both metrics then fell sharply, with November exports registering just $57.09K in value and 70.59K kg in weight—effectively returning to January-level volumes after the dramatic mid-year expansion.

Drivers & Industry Context

The July export spike aligns directly with Uzbekistan's new export duty policy effective July 1, 2025, which replaced export permits with tariffs on 86 goods including metal products [LEXCELL]. Exporters likely front-loaded shipments ahead of the policy implementation, causing the volume surge. The subsequent collapse reflects the new duty structure's impact on competitiveness, particularly for HS Code 721049. The near-total evaporation of export value derived from HS Code 721049 after October confirms the policy achieved its stated goal of retaining raw materials for domestic processing, though at the cost of immediate export revenue (Gazeta.uz).

Table: Uzbekistan Iron Rods Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Uzbekistan HS Code 721049 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

According to yTrade data, Uzbekistan's HS Code 721049 export from January to November 2025 is entirely dominated by a single sub-category: flat-rolled steel plated or coated with zinc, accounting for 100% of shipments, volume, and value. This sub-code, with 5,830 shipments totaling 91.12 million kilograms, represents the sole product under this HS code for Iron Rods exports. No other sub-codes were recorded, indicating a highly concentrated market structure for Uzbekistan HS Code 721049 Export.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

The unit price of 1.09 USD per kilogram reflects a low-value, bulk commodity product, typical for basic steel goods with minimal processing like zinc coating. This HS Code 721049 breakdown confirms a price-sensitive commodity market, where competition is driven by cost efficiency rather than specialized quality. Exporters should focus on scale and logistics to maintain margins in this trade structure.

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Uzbekistan Iron Rods Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Russia dominates Uzbekistan's Iron Rods export destinations, accounting for 83.04% of total value from January to November 2025. This heavy reliance on a single market exposes Uzbekistan to significant supply chain vulnerabilities, such as geopolitical shifts or demand fluctuations in Russia. Diversifying export partners could mitigate these risks, but the current data shows minimal engagement with other regions like Kazakhstan or Belarus.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The nearly identical value and weight ratios for Russia—83.04% versus 82.64%—signal a commodity-driven market where bulk industrial purchases prevail. High frequency ratios across top partners indicate consistent, large-scale orders rather than fragmented retail demand. This pattern points to volume scale opportunities for Uzbekistan's Iron Rods, emphasizing price competitiveness over premium margins in trade partnerships.

Table: Uzbekistan Iron Rods (HS Code 721049) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Uzbekistan Iron Rods Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, the Uzbekistan Iron Rods export market is heavily concentrated among High-Volume Repeaters, who represent 97.80% of the value share from January to November 2025. This dominance points to a stable, contract-based supply chain, where a small group of key accounts consistently drives nearly all export volumes. The market structure for Uzbekistan Iron Rods buyers is thus characterized by deep, recurring relationships rather than sporadic trading.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

The extreme reliance on High-Volume Repeaters introduces high concentration risk, as the loss of a single major account could disrupt revenue significantly. Sellers should focus on strengthening long-term contracts and offering volume-based incentives to lock in these key buyers. With new export duties effective from July 2025 [LEXCELL], pricing strategies must be adjusted to absorb cost increases and maintain competitiveness in HS Code 721049 buyer trends.

Table: Uzbekistan Iron Rods (HS Code 721049) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Iron Rods Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify export markets: Reduce reliance on Russia by targeting Kazakhstan or Belarus to mitigate geopolitical and demand risks.
• Lock in key buyers: Renegotiate long-term contracts with High-Volume Repeaters, offering volume incentives to stabilize revenue.
• Optimize logistics costs: Focus on scale and shipping efficiency to protect margins in the low-value, bulk-driven HS Code 721049 segment.
• Monitor policy shifts: Track further changes to Uzbekistan’s export duties to anticipate disruptions and adjust pricing strategies.
• Audit domestic alternatives: Explore local processing opportunities to offset export revenue losses under the new raw-material retention policy.

Take Action Now —— Explore Uzbekistan Iron Rods HS Code 721049 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Uzbekistan Iron Rods Export in 2025?

The surge and collapse in exports were driven by Uzbekistan's new export duty policy in July 2025, which caused a mid-year shipment rush followed by a sharp decline as tariffs took effect.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Uzbekistan Iron Rods (HS Code 721049) in 2025?

Russia dominates, accounting for 83.04% of export value, with minimal trade to other markets like Kazakhstan or Belarus.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Uzbekistan Iron Rods Export in 2025?

The uniform unit price of 1.09 USD/kg reflects a bulk commodity product (zinc-coated flat-rolled steel), with no premium variations due to standardized processing.

Q4. What should exporters in Uzbekistan focus on in the current Iron Rods export market?

Exporters must secure long-term contracts with High-Volume Repeaters (97.80% of value share) and optimize logistics to offset new duty costs.

Q5. What does this Uzbekistan Iron Rods export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Russian buyers benefit from stable bulk supply but face concentration risks if Uzbek exports decline further due to policy shifts.

Q6. How is Iron Rods typically used in this trade flow?

The product (zinc-coated flat-rolled steel) is a low-value industrial commodity, likely used in construction or infrastructure projects.