Gas imports to Uzbekistan increased by 41%, exports decreased by a third
In January–June, Uzbekistan increased its imports of natural and synthetic gas by 41.4% to $971.7 million, while exports decreased by 34.4% to $232.9 million. However, data for the first half of 2025 has been revised, resulting in a discrepancy of $115.4 million. Supplies to China decreased.
Gas imports to Uzbekistan increased by 41%, while exports decreased by a third.
According to data from the National Statistics Committee analyzed by Gazeta, between January and June 2026, Uzbekistan increased imports of mineral fuels, lubricants, and similar materials by 19.3%, reaching $2.23 billion. A year earlier, this figure was approximately $1.87 billion.
Natural and synthetic gas imports in the first six months of 2026 increased by 41.4%, reaching $971.7 million. Converted at this growth rate, the figure for the same period in 2025 would have been approximately $687.2 million. However, last year's National Statistics Committee report indicated a lower figure of $571.8 million, indicating a discrepancy of $115.4 million.
In June, Uzbekistan imported approximately $247 million worth of natural and synthetic gas, compared to $293.6 million in June last year.
Imports of liquefied gas (propane) increased 3.6-fold, rising from approximately $24 million to $86.3 million.
Imports of oil and petroleum products increased by 8.1%, from approximately $1.03 billion to $1.11 billion. In particular, supplies of fuels and lubricants increased by 5.1%, from approximately $821.1 million to $863 million.
However, the dynamics for individual fuel types varied significantly. Gasoline imports increased by 78.5%, from approximately $229.4 million to $409.5 million, while diesel imports decreased by 11.1%, from approximately $257.5 million to $228.9 million.
The export picture was different. Overall, exports of mineral fuels, lubricants, and similar materials increased by 5.6%, from approximately $731.8 million to $772.8 million.
According to the National Statistics Committee, exports of natural and synthetic gas decreased by 34.4%, from approximately $355 million to $232.9 million.
The General Administration of Customs of China reported imports of Uzbek gas worth $218.7 million in the first half of the year. This is 40% lower than the same period last year ($368.6 million).
Supplies were virtually nonexistent in the winter, amounting to $44.97 million in April (compared to $72.2 million in April 2025), $93.6 million in May (compared to $121.8 million), and $79 million in June (compared to $103.7 million).
At the same time, oil and petroleum product exports increased by 54.3%, from approximately $273.6 million to $422.2 million.
Thus, the difference between gas imports and exports amounted to approximately $739 million. A year earlier, this gap was significantly smaller – approximately $332 million.
The opposite trend was observed in electricity trade.
Electricity exports from January to June increased by 13.4%, reaching $116.2 million. Imports, on the other hand, decreased by 15.6%, from approximately $65.3 million to $55.1 million.
As a result, the positive difference between electricity exports and imports increased from approximately $37 million in January-June 2025 to $61 million for the same period in 2026.
Russia continues to increase gas exports to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan. According to the IEA, in 2026, the volume of supplies could exceed 10 billion cubic meters, compared to 7 billion the previous year, while gas production in Uzbekistan continues to decline.