Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Compete for Central Asia’s Air Cargo Market
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Uzbekistan boosted its cargo share to 43.9% in 2024, but Kazakhstan dominates as the region’s main transit hub
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are battling for dominance in Central Asia’s fast-growing air cargo sector, according to new data from IATA presented at the Central Asia Cargo Summit 2.
In 2024, Uzbekistan captured 43.9% of the region’s air cargo market, while Kazakhstan held 38.6%. However, Kazakhstan remains the region’s main transit hub, handling 58.4% of all transit cargo, compared to Uzbekistan’s less than 15%.
Market leadership has shifted in recent years: Uzbekistan led with 45% in 2020, but Kazakhstan took the top spot in 2023 with 45.4%. Despite the fluctuations, Uzbekistan’s volumes are expected to grow, with projections of 88K tonnes by the end of 2025.
