Propane prices surge in Uzbekistan as exchange sales volumes shrink

Propane prices have risen sharply on the Uzbek Republican Commodity Exchange (UZEX), while sales volumes have declined, according to data from the trading platform.

On January 6, the price of liquefied gas increased by 5.9 percent, exceeding UZS 8.7 million per ton. Since the start of 2026, propane has risen by 7.65 percent, or more than UZS 600,000.

At the same time, supply volumes have been decreasing since December 30, 2025. Over three trading sessions, sales fell by almost a quarter – from 2,375 tons to 1,832 tons.

Since December 11, propane prices have climbed by more than 20 percent, meaning that the cost of one ton of liquefied gas has increased by nearly UZS 1.5 million in less than a month.

Earlier, economist Otabek Bakirov noted that on January 5, the volume of propane offered on the commodity exchange fell by more than 400 tons in a single day. He attributed the decline in trading volumes to an “artificially created shortage.”

The Competition Development and Consumer Rights Protection Committee has not commented on the sharp rise in exchange prices for propane.

According to data from the National Statistics Committee, propane prices rose by 1.3 percent in December, with the upper price ceiling reaching UZS 7,600 per liter. Based on the results of 2025, liquefied gas became cheaper by 10.5 percent.

However, official statistics differ from UZEX data. If the price of propane on December 27, 2024 is compared with that of December 30, 2025, the increase amounts to 27.56 percent – from UZS 6.4 million to UZS 8.08 million per ton.

In early November 2024, the antimonopoly authority introduced a limit on price growth for liquefied gas at 20 percent above the seller’s initial price. The cap was imposed after the price of propane exceeded UZS 10.1 million per ton, overtaking AI-80 gasoline.