At the end of 2023, Uzbekistan reduced natural gas exports to China by almost half, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China.
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.
