Uzbek cotton Production up 23%

Interfax December 27 Uzbekistan increased production of cotton fibers by 22.9% up to 1.069 million tonnes from January to November 2005 compared with the same period last year, the Uzbek State Statistics Department said. Uzbekistan increased production of cotton fibers by 3.3% up to 976,656 tonnes in 2004 compared with 2003, while exports of cotton fibers increased by 18.5%. Gross production of raw cotton stood at 3.8 million tones in 2005, while the 2004 figure was 3.5 million tones. Uzbekistan is the world's six largest producer of cotton and is the world's second largest raw cotton exporter. Some 3.5 million tones of raw cotton and 1 - 1.2 million tones of cotton fibers are produced annually. More than 75% of the cotton produced is exported.