Uzbekistan is spending more on gas imports while earning less from exports. In January-August 2026, exports of natural and manufactured gas fell 34.8% year-on-year to $322.3 million, according to data from the National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Over the same eight months, the country imported $1.22 billion worth of gas, 15.2% more than a year earlier. Of that amount, $124.3 million was spent on liquefied gas, including propane, with the value of those imports rising about 3.5-fold.
In value terms, Uzbekistan imported almost four times as much gas as it exported. The country continues to sell gas to China while bringing in supplies from Russia and Turkmenistan to cover its domestic needs.
Domestic natural gas production fell 16.3% year-on-year to 24.2 billion cubic meters in January-August, while demand remains high. The government said in August that expanding industrial capacity and the needs of a growing population were increasing demand for natural gas and petroleum products, with seasonal consumption adding further pressure.
Five gas fields have been discovered since the beginning of the year, while 80 wells have been drilled, some to depths of 6,000 meters or more. Another 40 are planned for the fourth quarter.
In May, BP p.l.c., formerly British Petroleum, acquired a 40% stake in a project covering six exploration blocks in western Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region. State-owned Uzbekneftegaz and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) each hold 30%. SOCAR operates the project and has been carrying out seismic exploration ahead of drilling.
Uzbekistan is also expanding its gas transmission system. Plans include new trunk pipelines and upgraded compressor stations, while the introduction of modern electric motors at some stations is expected to save up to 125 million cubic meters of gas a year.
