Uzbekistan Increases Gas Exports Despite Previous Halt Plans
Uzbekistan Sees Significant Changes in Gas Imports and Exports
In the first two months of 2025, Uzbekistan experienced a drastic reduction in its natural gas imports while significantly increasing its gas exports compared to the same period in 2024. According to a report by the National Statistics Committee, the country imported natural gas worth $35.8 million, which is 4.6 times lower than the $166.7 million imported in 2024 from Russia and Turkmenistan.
The statistics revealed that in January, gas imports amounted to $27.8 million, down from $35.6 million in January 2024, and in February, imports fell sharply to $8 million, a significant decrease from $131.1 million in February 2024. The report did not disclose the physical volumes of gas delivered during this period.
On the flip side, Uzbekistan saw a notable increase in gas exports, reaching $42 million in January–February 2025, up by almost 1.6 times compared to the same period in 2024. The country mainly exports gas to China, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, with January exports totaling $21.8 million and February exports amounting to $20.2 million.
However, there was a decline in gas exports to China, as reported by China’s General Administration of Customs. Gas imports from Uzbekistan to China totaled $49.4 million in the first two months of the year, showing a 13.9% decrease from the same period in 2024. China imported $26.1 million worth of gas from Uzbekistan in January and $23.3 million in February.
Additionally, Uzbekistan resumed gas exports to Kyrgyzstan, with 10.4 million cubic meters of gas worth $1.84 million exported to the neighboring country in January–February 2025. The average export price was $177 per thousand cubic meters.
It is speculated that some of Uzbekistan’s gas exports may also have gone to Tajikistan, which imported 267 million cubic meters of Uzbek gas in 2024, marking a 21% increase from the previous year, with an average of around 22.2 million cubic meters per month.
These changes in Uzbekistan’s gas imports and exports indicate a shifting landscape in the country’s energy trade relationships, with fluctuations in both import and export volumes and destinations.
