Uzbekistan ramps up gas imports to $360.5 million in Q1, exports to China collapse

Between January and March, gas imports from Turkmenistan and Russia surged by 2.2 times, totaling $360.5 million. While February saw a brief dip in import volumes to $34.6 million, the figures rebounded significantly in March, reaching $158.3 million. This follows a high start in January when imports were recorded at $167.6 million.

The export sector, meanwhile, shows a starkly different trajectory. While Uzbek national statistics suggest exports to China reached $36.7 million for the quarter – highlighted by a five-fold increase in March compared to February – these figures stand in sharp contrast to international reports.

Data released by the General Administration of Customs of China paints a much bleaker picture for Uzbek exports. According to Chinese records, Uzbekistan exported just over $1 million worth of gas in the first quarter, leaving a discrepancy of more than $35 million between the two nations' reporting. Furthermore, Chinese customs authorities reported a complete suspension of deliveries from Uzbekistan during February and March. When compared to the same period in 2025, during which exports reached $70.8 million, the volume of gas sent to China has effectively plummeted 65-fold.

The regional hierarchy of gas suppliers to the Chinese market remains dominated by other players. Russia leads the pack with $2.3 billion in deliveries for the first quarter, followed by Turkmenistan at $1.88 billion. Other significant suppliers include Myanmar ($384.1 million) and Kazakhstan ($117.8 million), leaving Uzbekistan at the bottom of the regional list with just $1.08 million according to Beijing’s records.