In January-May, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $25.81 billion. Compared to the same period last year, it increased by 25.4%, the State Statistics Committee says.
Export for five months amounted to $10.51 billion, having increased by 24.1% compared to Jan-May of 2022. Imports showed a slightly more significant increase – by 26.4%, to $15.3 billion. The negative foreign trade balance reached $4.79 billion.
In May, Uzbekistan increased its gold exports to $1.3 billion. The total volume of precious metal supplies abroad amounted to $4.37 billion.
China remains the major trading partner for Uzbekistan with $4.54 billion (almost 17.6% of total trade). Russia retains its place as the main export market for Uzbek goods ($986.3 million) and second — on imports ($2.85 billion).
Export
Excluding gold, the largest share in Uzbekistan's merchandise exports fell on manufactured goods – $1.71 billion. Compared to last year, their supplies fell by 10.1%.
Revenues from the export of textiles and fabrics decreased by almost 16% and amounted to $860.5 million. The export of non-ferrous metals also decreased significantly – by 12.9%, to $579.9 million. At the same time, supplies of iron and steel doubled and reached $94.9 million
Food exports grew by 31.5% to $679.6 million. Most of it was fruits and vegetables ($422.4 million, +27%) as well as grains ($211.6 million, +59.2%).
The third place is occupied by engineering products with $492.5 million (+74.7%). The export of cars ($178.8 million) grew by 60.8%, and electrical equipment ($94.9 million) - by 55.3%. Deliveries of communication and sound recording devices grew 6.5 times to $54.4 million.
Next are consumer goods with $489.6 million (+25.5%). The export of ready-to-wear clothing rose by a quarter to $410.3 million, and footwear to $18 million.
Following with a slight lag is chemical products – $467.4 million (+0%). Revenues from inorganics rose by a third to $203.6 million, but shipments of plastics fell by about 30.9% ($89.9 million) and fertilizers by 32.5% ($95.3 million).
Commodity exports remain relatively low. Thus, the proceeds from the supply of gas ($201.5 million) and raw materials for fertilizers ($11.7 million) dropped by almost half. At the same time, the export of oil and oil products doubled to $91.5 million.
