AI-92 gasoline prices jump 7.4% in Uzbekistan as exchange sales drop sharply

According to trading data from UZEX, the price of AI-92 gasoline increased by 7.4 percent on March 10, exceeding UZS 12,720,000 per ton.

At the same time, the volume of fuel sold on the exchange dropped by more than half. Sales declined from 3,784 tons on Friday to 1,835 tons on Tuesday.

Global oil prices influence domestic market

The sharp increase in AI-92 gasoline prices occurred amid a surge in global oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East.

Last week, oil prices surpassed $100 per barrel for the first time since the summer of 2022 before easing slightly afterward.

Economist Otabek Bakirov previously noted that rising global oil prices often serve as a convenient justification for domestic fuel price increases by dominant market players.

According to Bakirov, despite a 25 percent decline in global oil prices in 2025 – from $80 to $60 per barrel – gasoline prices in Uzbekistan still rose by 11.9 percent during the same period.

Methane station restrictions add pressure

The spike in exchange prices also coincided with the temporary closure of methane fueling stations across Uzbekistan.

Due to colder weather, the Ministry of Energy introduced temporary restrictions on the operation of compressed natural gas filling stations. However, the ministry has not announced when these limitations will be lifted.