Propane prices drop 18 percent after action against alleged market manipulation

Investigations suggest that in November–December 2025 and January 2026, coordinated actions potentially violating competition laws were carried out at propane exchange auctions. These actions allegedly included unjustified increases in starting prices and the artificial withholding of product volumes from the market.

In response, antitrust proceedings have been initiated against 92 importing companies across the country:

• Karakalpakstan – 5 companies
• Andijan region – 7 companies
• Bukhara region – 3 companies
• Fergana region – 13 companies
• Namangan region – 4 companies
• Kashkadarya region – 5 companies
• Samarkand region – 17 companies
• Syrdarya region – 4 companies
• Tashkent city – 21 companies
• Tashkent region – 1 company
• Khorezm region – 12 companies

The Competition Committee emphasized that continuous monitoring is being conducted at fuel filling stations to prevent unjustified increases in retail prices.