Uzbekistan’s trade deficit widens as gold exports plunge and imports surge

Chemical exports increased 31.7% to $1.28 billion. Inorganic chemicals accounted for $789.1 million, up 45.5%, while fertilizer exports remained broadly unchanged at $207.8 million. Exports of plastics in primary forms rose 19.2% to $138.9 million.

Food and live animal exports increased 9% to $1.32 billion, raising their share of total exports from 7% to 8.3%.

Fruit and vegetable exports reach $872.9 million

Uzbekistan exported 1.087 million tons of fruit and vegetable products in January–June, up 0.8% from a year earlier.

In value terms, fruit and vegetable exports rose 3% from $847.1 million to $872.9 million, accounting for 5.5% of total exports.

Fruit exports declined 20% in volume terms, from 198,200 tons to 158,500 tons, while their value fell 3.9% from $250.4 million to $240.6 million.

Cherry exports dropped 16.7% to $59.9 million, while apricot exports fell 25.1% to $30.5 million. At the same time, exports of dried apricots almost doubled, rising 93.8% to $25.2 million.

Vegetable exports increased 21.6% to $190.3 million. Onion exports rose 11.4% to $82.1 million, cabbage exports increased 10.9% to $53.8 million, and tomato exports jumped 43.8% to $33.8 million.

Textile exports rise 24%

Uzbekistan exported $1.6 billion worth of textile products in the first half of 2026, up 24.1% year-on-year.

Textiles accounted for 10.1% of total exports. Finished textile products made up 52.6% of textile exports, while yarn accounted for 31.1%.

Imports climb 21%

Uzbekistan’s imports increased 21% year-on-year in January–June, from $20.78 billion to $25.15 billion.

Goods imports rose by about $4 billion to $22.2 billion, while services imports totaled around $3 billion.

Machinery and transport equipment remained the largest import category, with imports rising 25.1% to $8.25 billion. Its share of total imports increased from 31.8% to 32.8%.

Imports of vehicles and other transport equipment reached $2 billion, up 31.7%. Passenger car imports surged 84.5% to $778.3 million, while imports of automotive parts and accessories increased 12.7% to $904.3 million.

Imports of electrical machinery and equipment increased 44.4% to $1.38 billion. Power-generating machinery imports rose 56% to $839.7 million, while telecommunications equipment imports nearly doubled to $840.9 million.

Food and live animal imports recorded the fastest growth among the major categories, rising 44.2% to $2.82 billion. Their share of total imports increased from 9.4% to 11.2%.

Imports of cereals and cereal products increased 67.3% to $761.1 million. Meat and meat products rose 42.1% to $480.8 million, while imports of sugar, sugar products and honey increased 48.6% to $362.7 million.

Fruit and vegetable imports increased 35.6% to $325.7 million, while dairy products and eggs rose 38.8% to $203.9 million.

Imports of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials increased 19.3% to $2.23 billion.

Oil and petroleum product imports reached $1.11 billion, up 8.1%, while natural and manufactured gas imports rose 41.4% to $971.7 million. Propane imports increased 3.6-fold to $86.3 million.

Gasoline imports climbed 78.5% to $409.5 million, while diesel fuel imports fell 11.1% to $228.9 million.

Electricity imports declined 15.6% to $55.1 million, while electricity exports increased 13.4% to $116.2 million.