Uzbekistan almost halved gas exports to China in 2023

In December, monthly supplies of gas to China amounted to $54.5 million, decreasing by less than 1% compared to November. Gas exports to the PRC continue to remain at their highest levels since last summer.

In 2023, Uzbekistan exported natural gas to China for $563.53 million, which is 47.4% less than in 2022.

The leadership in gas supplies to China continues to be held by Turkmenistan, which supplied $9.6 billion worth of blue fuel over 12 months. Russia is in second place, almost doubling its natural gas exports to $6.43 billion. Next comes Myanmar ($1. 46 billion) and Kazakhstan ($1.32 billion).

According to the Statistics Agency, last year Uzbekistan’s gas exports abroad amounted to $529.9 million, which is 42.7% lower than in 2022. In December, gas supplies exceeded $20 million, but official data from Uzbekistan differs 2.5 times from Chinese customs statistics.

In recent years, the republic itself has been consolidating its status as a gas importer. In September, fuel supplies from Turkmenistan increased sharply, and in October, gas imports from Russia through Kazakhstan via the Central Asia-Center pipeline system began. Gas export revenues do not cover imports.