Uzbekistan’s Gas Trade Deficit Grows as Imports Quadruple
Uzbekistan Sees Increase in Gas Imports in the First Quarter of 2024
In the first three months of 2024, Uzbekistan’s gas imports have exceeded $360 million, with $152.9 million in March alone. This is 2.4 times more than the same period last year. The export of “blue fuel” during this period amounted to $45.4 million, resulting in a difference in supply of $314.8 million.
According to the Statistics Agency, gas imports in January totaled $35.6 million, while February saw a significant increase to $131.1 million, and March reached $193.5 million. The agency did not disclose the physical volume of the supply.
So far in 2024, Uzbekistan has exported gas worth $45.4 million, with $21 million in January, $5.7 million in February, and $18.7 million in March.
The General Administration of Customs of China reported that China, the main buyer of Uzbek gas, did not import gas from Uzbekistan in March. However, in January and February, China purchased gas worth $57.38 million from Uzbekistan, double the volume announced by the Uzbek side.
Since October 7, 2023, Uzbekistan has been importing gas from Russia via Kazakhstan in a northern direction. Officials are planning to modernize the main gas system with a $500 million investment to increase the volume of gas imports from the north.
This increase in gas imports and exports highlights Uzbekistan’s growing presence in the global gas market and its efforts to enhance its energy infrastructure for future developments.
