Uzbekistan's gas trade deficit widens, imports quadruple from last year

In the first three months of 2024, Uzbekistan’s gas imports exceeded $360 million (with $152.9 million in March alone), which is 2.4 times more than the same period last year. During this period, the export of "blue fuel" amounted to $45.4 million. The difference in supply amounted to $314.8 million.

Photo: Uztransgaz

According to the Statistics Agency, in January, gas imports amounted to $35.6 million, in February, it was 3.7 times more, or $131.1 million, and in March, it was $193.5 million. The agency has not disclosed the physical volume of the supply.

Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has exported gas worth $45.4 million: $21 million in January, $5.7 million in February, and $18.7 million in March.

According to the General Administration of Customs of China, China (the main buyer of Uzbek gas) did not import gas from Uzbekistan in March.

We had previously reported that in January-February, China bought gas worth $57.38 million from Uzbekistan, which is twice as much as the volume announced by the Uzbek side.

Since October 7, 2023, Uzbekistan has been importing gas from Russia via the territory of Kazakhstan in a northern direction. Officials are planning to modernize the main gas system for $500 million to increase the volume of gas imports "from the north."

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