Propane prices surge at gas stations as commodity exchange rates climb

The price hike became particularly noticeable mid-week. One driver from Andijan told Kun.uz that while gas was available for UZS 5,700 last Monday, prices jumped suddenly to UZS 6,700 on Wednesday. This upward trend appears consistent across the majority of refueling stations in the area.

This retail spike mirrors recent activity on the Uzbekistan Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange. Between May 4 and May 7, the average exchange price for a ton of propane grew from UZS 7,244,000 to UZS 7,707,000 – a 6.4% increase in just a few days. While wholesale prices are rising, it remains unclear to what extent these exchange fluctuations are directly dictating the immediate retail price hikes seen at the stations.

The current market volatility follows regulatory measures introduced earlier this year to curb drastic price swings. Since January 12, following instructions from the Competition Committee, the price growth limit for liquefied gas on the exchange was reduced from 20% to 10% above the starting price. Despite these constraints, the recent 6.4% jump indicates a tightening supply or increased demand in the domestic market.