Uzbekistan increases gas exports despite production decline

In the first two months of this year, Uzbekistan exported gas worth $42 million while importing $35.8 million worth, raising questions about the increase in exports amid declining domestic production and growing shortages.

In January and February 2025, Uzbekistan exported gas valued at $42 million, a 57.3% increase compared to the same period last year ($26.7 million), according to a report from the Statistics Committee.

In February alone, gas exports reached $20.2 million, up by $14.5 million – or 3.54 times higher – than in February of the previous year.

Meanwhile, gas imports during the same period totaled $35.8 million. Notably, imports in February dropped sharply to $8 million, a 16.4-fold reduction. Since the start of the year, gas imports have decreased sixfold, falling from $166.7 million to $35.8 million.

For context, gas production in Uzbekistan declined by 208.8 million cubic meters in February, reaching 3.5015 billion cubic meters. Overall production has decreased by 4.2% since the beginning of the year.

As a reminder, throughout 2024, Uzbekistan imported $1.7 billion worth of gas from Russia and Turkmenistan – 2.4 times more than in 2023 and six times more than in 2022. Meanwhile, the value of gas exports rose by 18%, reaching $628 million. The prices at which natural gas is imported and exported remain undisclosed, classified as a “commercial secret.”

Five years ago, officials had indicated that Uzbekistan might halt natural gas exports starting January 1, 2025.