In Uzbekistan, the gap between imports and exports has increased nearly twofold
In January–August 2026, Uzbekistan's imports exceeded exports by 11.7 billion dollars. In the corresponding period of last year, this difference amounted to 6 billion dollars. In the eight months, exports decreased by 3.4 percent, while imports increased by 16.3 percent.
In Uzbekistan, the gap between imports and exports has widened nearly twofold
According to preliminary data from the National Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover reached $57.4 billion. This is $4 billion or 7.6 percent more compared to January–August of 2025.
Total exports amounted to $22.9 billion, while imports stood at $34.5 billion. Thus, a negative balance of $11.7 billion — meaning the excess of imports over exports — was recorded in foreign trade.
One of the largest changes in the structure of exports was observed in gold trade. Its value fell from $8.3 billion last year to $2.8 billion. That is, gold exports decreased by 66.3 percent in dollar terms.
At the same time, excluding gold, exports of goods grew by 28.7 percent, reaching $11.5 billion. Exports of services also increased by 33.8 percent, amounting to $8.5 billion. The share of services in total exports reached 37.4 percent.
Exports of industrial goods increased by 25.6 percent to $3.4 billion, while exports of chemicals and similar products grew by 32.3 percent, reaching nearly $1.8 billion. Exports of machinery and transport equipment amounted to $899.8 million, increasing by 43 percent.
Machinery and transport equipment remained the largest category in imports. In the eight months, $11.3 billion worth of products were imported in this category — 17.3 percent more compared to the same period last year.
Imports of food products and live animals increased by 39.3 percent, reaching $3.7 billion. In particular, imports of meat and meat products amounted to $677.4 million. This figure grew by 34.2 percent in value terms.
During the reporting period, Uzbekistan conducted trade relations with more than 200 countries. The largest trade partners were:
- China - $13.2 billion, 23 percent of total trade;
- Russia - $9.2 billion, 16 percent;
- Kazakhstan - $3.7 billion, 6.5 percent;
- Turkey - $1.9 billion, 3.4 percent;
- Afghanistan - $1.4 billion, 2.5 percent.
Nearly one-third of imports — 32.4 percent — came from China. Goods and services worth $11.2 billion were imported from this country, while exports to it amounted to nearly $2 billion.