Uzbekistan trade turnover grows 7.4% YoY in H1 2026
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover expanded by 7.4% year-on-year during the first half of 2026, reaching $41 bn. The overall expansion was primarily propelled by a robust 28.7% surge in non-gold goods exports, alongside rapid growth in international services.
However, strong domestic demand for industrial machinery, motor vehicles and chemical inputs pushed the total import bill up by 21%, resulting in a broader trade deficit for the six-month period.
Geographic expansion and regional hubs
China and Russia sustained their positions as Uzbekistan’s primary commercial partners, together accounting for more than 40% of total trade volume. Beyond these two major economies, Afghanistan emerged as a vital export market, driven significantly by cross-border commercial activity at the Airitom Free Zone near Termez.
Neighbouring Central Asian states maintained strong bilateral trade flows, while European commercial engagement strengthened through substantial deliveries to France. Additionally, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates served as key conduits for outbound shipments in the Asian region.
Industrial inputs fuel import surge
Inbound trade was heavily dominated by machinery, heavy industrial equipment and transport infrastructure required to support national modernization programs. Automotive imports, encompassing both complete passenger cars and assembly parts, represented a substantial portion of mechanical purchases.
| Import Category | Share of Total Imports (%) | Value ($m) | YoY Growth (%) |
| Machinery & Transport Equipment | 32.8% | 8,253.3 | +25.1% |
| Industrial Goods (Metals & Manufactures) | 14.8% | 3,729.6 | +12.2% |
| Chemicals & Pharmaceutical Products | 12.1% | 3,031.1 | +16.7% |
| Imported Services (Tourism & Transport) | 11.8% | 2,958.7 | +12.3% |
| Food Products & Live Animals | 11.2% | 2,821.7 | +44.2% |
| Mineral Fuels & Lubricants | 8.9% | 2,229.6 | +19.3% |
Raw metals, structural steel, primary plastics and pharmaceutical products also constituted a significant share of inbound goods. To meet domestic energy and consumer requirements, the republic recorded notable inflows of refined petroleum, natural gas and cereal staples.
Service expansion diversifies export
The structural diversification of Uzbekistan’s export base gathered pace as international services, led by travel, tourism and freight transit, took a prominent role in outbound revenue generation. Within manufacturing, ready-made garments and cotton yarn drove strong growth in textile shipments.
| Export Category / Commodity | Share of Total Exports (%) | Value ($m) | YoY Growth (%) |
| Services (Tourism, Transport, IT) | 39.1% | 6,198.2 | +35.7% |
| Industrial Goods (Non-ferrous metals & Steel) | 15.2% | 2,407.9 | +22.8% |
| Textiles (Garments, Yarn & Fabrics) | 10.1% | 1,600.0 | +24.1% |
| Non-monetary Gold | 9.5% | 1,503.8 | -76.8% |
| Food & Agricultural Produce | 8.3% | 1,321.6 | +9.0% |
| Chemical Products & Fertilisers | 8.1% | 1,281.1 | +31.7% |
| Mineral Fuels (Petroleum, Gas & Power) | 4.9% | 772.8 | +5.6% |
Chemical producers expanded sales of inorganic compounds and mineral fertilisers, while agricultural exporters delivered more than one million tonnes of fresh produce to overseas markets, led by onions, cherries, raisins and cabbage.
