Uzbekistan's foreign trade tops $44.4 billion in seven months

In the first seven months of 2025, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover improved significantly with the United Arab Emirates, India, Afghanistan, and the Netherlands, while declining with Lithuania, Turkmenistan, South Korea, the United States, and Turkey. During the reporting period, $7.7 billion worth of gold was sold – a record figure. Dependence on China continued to grow, with the country accounting for 18.2 percent of Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade.

From January to July 2025, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover amounted to $44.4 billion, an increase of $7.37 billion or 19.9 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

Exports reached $20.1 billion (+34.8 percent), while imports totaled $24.3 billion (+9.9 percent). As a result, the negative trade balance narrowed to $4.2 billion.

The largest share of foreign trade turnover was recorded with China (18.2 percent), Russia (16.1 percent), Kazakhstan (5.9 percent), Turkey (3.6 percent), and South Korea (2.2 percent).

Among major partners, trade volumes decreased with Lithuania (-46.9 percent), Turkmenistan (-22.5 percent), South Korea (-17.7 percent), the United States (-8.7 percent), and Turkey (-6.5 percent). Meanwhile, significant growth was observed with the UAE (+71.4 percent), India (+57.1 percent), Afghanistan (+50.9 percent), the Netherlands (+45.8 percent), Belarus (+28.4 percent), Pakistan (+25.9 percent), Germany (+24.5 percent), China (+17.9 percent), Kazakhstan (+15.9 percent), and France (+15 percent).

Exports

During the reporting period, gold exports reached $7.6 billion (+80.9 percent), accounting for 37.7 percent of total exports. Industrial goods (11.1 percent), food products and live animals (7.5 percent), chemical products (5.8 percent), mineral fuels (4.4 percent), and various manufactured items (4.3 percent) also made up a considerable share.

The main partners in goods and services exports were Russia (12.3 percent), China (5.5 percent), Kazakhstan (4 percent), Afghanistan (3.7 percent), Turkey (3 percent), France (2.6 percent), the UAE (1.8 percent), Kyrgyzstan (1.6 percent), Tajikistan (1.4 percent), and Pakistan (1.2 percent). Their combined share amounted to 37 percent of Uzbekistan’s total exports.

From January to July, Uzbekistan exported $438 million worth of natural gas – up 38.2 percent compared to last year. Exports also included $333 million of oil and oil products (-16.3 percent) and $102 million of electricity (+49.8 percent).

Car and spare parts exports totaled nearly $180 million, down 19.5 percent year-on-year.

Imports

Machinery and transport equipment accounted for the largest share of imports (33.3 percent), followed by industrial goods (16 percent), and chemicals and related products (12.8 percent). Two-thirds of total imports came from just seven countries:

• China – 28.7 percent

• Russia – 19.3 percent

• Kazakhstan – 7.6 percent

• Turkey – 4.1 percent

• South Korea – 3.9 percent

• Germany – 2.8 percent

• India – 2.6 percent

Uzbekistan imported $734 million worth of natural gas, equal to 70 percent of last year’s level.

Car imports also fell sharply. In January–July, Uzbekistan imported $530 million worth of cars (-35.2 percent). Meanwhile, imports of car parts and accessories rose by 41.2 percent, reaching $978 million.