Kyrgyzstan: The government has proposed introducing molecular marking of cement to combat the black market and improve transparency in production, imports and sales, according to Akchabar news. Under the proposal, cement classified under HS code 2523 would be subject to mandatory molecular marking from 1 June 2026, with a ban on the circulation of unmarked cement from 1 December 2026. The system would allow authorities to track cement from production or import through to final sale. The molecular marker would be added to cement without affecting its physical or chemical properties and verified using specialised equipment.
The country’s cement production capacity is estimated at 8.40Mt/yr, although actual output is reportedly significantly lower, and authorities believe some production and sales may be underreported. Cement imports reached 1.10Mt in 2025. The Cabinet of Ministers expects that the new marking system could double the size of the legal cement market within three years and generate up to US$34m per year in tax revenue from manufacturers, with additional revenue expected from concrete and other construction companies.
