Cargo delays at Kazakh–Russian border slow Uzbekistan’s export activity

The volume of cargo shipments from Uzbekistan to CIS countries has declined due to delays at the Russian–Kazakh border, Spot writes with reference to ATI.SU.

Between July and September, the number of export shipment requests increased by 9% compared to 2024. However, demand for transport services fell by more than one-third from the previous quarter, while average freight rates dropped by 7% year-on-year.

Shipments to Russia saw a 38% decline in demand, with a noticeable decrease in transport requests to Kazakhstan and Belarus as well.

On the other hand, the number of import shipment requests to Uzbekistan – primarily from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus – grew by 56% year-on-year and by 58% compared to the previous quarter. Prices for imports rose by 11% over the same period.

Domestic freight activity also increased. The number of internal delivery requests in Uzbekistan grew by 38% compared to the previous quarter and by 83% year-on-year, with domestic shipping rates rising 44% in the first nine months.

“The decline in shipments from Russia during the second quarter was a temporary phenomenon caused by the strengthening of the Russian ruble. Import demand has since recovered along with currency market adjustments. Now, however, export shipments are slowing down – most likely due to the situation at the Kazakh–Russian border, where truck queues began forming in mid-September,” said Farid Vakhidov, head of ATI.SU’s Uzbekistan office.

Stricter controls on the import of sanctioned goods into Russia have slowed cargo flows from all Central Asian countries, the expert noted. According to his forecast, the difficulties at the border will likely affect Uzbekistan’s exports to Russia in the fourth quarter as well.