Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In 2023, the number of applications for road freight transportation to Uzbekistan increased one and a half times, and exports entered the correction stage. To deliver goods domestically, companies still prefer to find carriers through non-digital methods. At the same time, there was a noticeable increase in prices in all directions. This data is provided by the international Freight Exchange ATI.SU.

The international “Cargo Transportation Exchange ATI.SU” analyzed the activity of its users, including cargo owners, forwarding and transport companies, cargo carriers both from Uzbekistan and from other countries. Most often, companies placed applications for international transportation on the Exchange. Thus, in annual terms, the number of applications for transportation to Uzbekistan from other countries increased by 51%, and prices increased by 25%. Kazakhstan and Belarus have shown good progress, but Russia remains the most widespread and rapidly growing destination - the number of applications for transportation from the Russian Federation increased by 56%.

“An increase in transportation from the Russian Federation is observed in all countries of Central Asia. Among the main reasons for this growth are the development of domestic production in Russia, the closure of European markets for Russian manufacturers, as well as the weakening of the ruble, which made Russian products more competitive in the world market. We predict that the growth in demand for import transportation will continue in 2024,” commented Farid Vakhidov, director of the Uzbek representative office of the international Freight Exchange ATI.SU.

In export transportation, the opposite trend is observed. After last year’s takeoff (then the number of applications increased by 115% compared to 2021), the market entered a correction stage. Applications fell 24% in 2023, with the trend accelerating in the second half of the year. In the third quarter the decline was 37%, and in the fourth - 44%.

The trend here is largely determined by Russia (-26%). Belarus also showed a decrease (-13%). Transportation to Kazakhstan remained at last year’s level. However, even with the current correction, the number of applications remains at a much higher level than in 2021.

“In export transportation, we are seeing a natural correction after the takeoff in 2022, caused primarily by anti-Russian sanctions and the adaptation of Eurasian logistics to new conditions. Now the market has calmed down, the numbers are returning to normal values. At the same time, a slight decrease in the number of applications does not mean a physical reduction in export cargo transportation. During periods of rapid changes (as in 2022), shippers need new contractors, so they en masse go to the Exchange to find them; in 2023, the situation on the market has more or less stabilized. At the same time, average prices for transportation from Uzbekistan last year were 34% higher than in 2022. This fact does not allow us to talk about a decline in the market,” explained Farid Vakhidov, director of the Uzbekistan representative office of the international Freight Exchange ATI.SU.

In addition, the ATI.SU Freight Exchange has observed a multiple increase in the number of applications for domestic transportation in Uzbekistan. This indicates the active development of the economy in general and the online trading market in particular. But here the absolute numbers are small - in the vast majority of domestic routes, shippers prefer to find carriers using traditional methods, without resorting to digital services.