Uzbekistan cuts gas exports to China amid rising domestic demand and imports

According to the latest figures, Uzbekistan imported natural gas valued at $202.2 million from Turkmenistan and Russia in January and February. This represents a 4.1-fold increase compared to the same period last year. The bulk of these imports arrived in January, totaling $167.6 million – a 6.9-fold year-on-year spike – before tapering off to $34.6 million in February.

While imports rose, the volume of "blue fuel" sent to China plummeted. National statistics indicate that exports to the PRC dropped approximately six times to just $7.1 million. The report suggests that Tashkent completely suspended gas shipments in January, only resuming them on a limited scale in February.

However, there is a notable discrepancy between domestic records and data provided by the General Administration of Customs of China. Chinese figures suggest that Uzbekistan’s exports for the two-month period totaled only slightly more than $1 million. This gap of roughly $6 million highlights a continuing difference in how trade volumes are recorded between the two nations.

Furthermore, Chinese customs reported a total suspension of Uzbek gas deliveries in February. When compared to the January-February 2025 period, China’s data indicates that Uzbek gas exports have effectively collapsed, falling by a factor of 45.

In the regional context, Russia remains the leading supplier of gas to the Chinese market, delivering fuel worth $1.61 billion over the two months. Turkmenistan follows in second place with $1.29 billion. Other regional contributors include Myanmar at $267.5 million and Kazakhstan at $86.2 million, leaving Uzbekistan at the bottom of the list with its $1.08 million contribution according to Chinese records.