Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — In January 2025, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover (FTT) amounted to US$4.5 billion, marking an increase of US$297.2 million (or 7.1%) compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Statistics Agency.

Of the total FTT, exports stood at US$1.3098 billion, reflecting a 14.1% growth compared to January 2024, while imports reached US$3.1995 billion, an increase of 4.4%. As a result, the foreign trade balance recorded a deficit of US$1.8897 billion.

Kazakhstan emerged as one of Uzbekistan’s key economic partners, ranking third after China and Russia. This is attributed to the shared border, trade within the CIS Free Trade Zone, and the liberalization of mutual economic relations.

Currently, Uzbekistan maintains trade relations with 154 countries worldwide. The highest share of foreign trade turnover was recorded with China (22.1%), Russia (17.7%), Kazakhstan (7.0%), Türkiye (4.7%), and Germany (3.8%).

A significant portion of Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover was concentrated in Tashkent, accounting for 41.7% (US$1.8814 billion), while the lowest share was recorded in Syrdarya region at 1.2% (US$52.1 million).

The share of CIS countries in Uzbekistan’s total foreign trade turnover for the reporting period increased by 2.4% compared to January 2024, reaching 36.5%. Conversely, trade with non-CIS countries declined by 2.4%, accounting for 63.5% of the total trade turnover.

In January 2025, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with CIS countries totaled US$1.6472 billion, with exports amounting to US$602.8 million and imports reaching US$1.0444 billion. Trade within the CIS Free Trade Zone continues to have a positive impact on Uzbekistan’s overall foreign trade performance.

Among CIS countries, the largest trade volumes were recorded with Russia (48.5%), Kazakhstan (19.0%), and Turkmenistan (4.1%).

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover with EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) countries amounted to US$1.2145 billion during the reporting period, including US$378.4 million in exports and US$836.1 million in imports.

The number of exporters in Uzbekistan reached 2,722, while total exports of goods and services (excluding non-monetary gold) amounted to US$1.3098 billion, reflecting a 14.1% increase compared to January 2024.

Exports accounted for 62.3% of total foreign trade, with industrial goods (20.2%), food products and live animals (10.9%), chemicals and related products (10.1%), and various manufactured goods (6.4%) making up significant shares.

The share of CIS countries in Uzbekistan’s total exports declined by 0.9% compared to January 2024.

Uzbekistan’s main trading partners for exports of goods and services in January 2025 included Russia, Afghanistan, Türkiye, China, Kazakhstan, France, and the UAE, collectively accounting for 57.8% of total exports.

In terms of export distribution, Tashkent remained the largest contributor, accounting for 28.2% (US$369.1 million), while the lowest share was recorded in Jizzakh region at 0.9% (US$11.2 million).

In January 2025, 94.1 thousand tons of fruit and vegetable products were exported, representing a 35.5% decrease (or 51.9 thousand tons) compared to the same period in 2024.

The total export volume of fruit and vegetable products for the reporting period amounted to US$81.7 million, reflecting an 8.6% increase compared to January 2024. Fruit and vegetable exports accounted for 6.2% of the total export volume.

The primary export markets for fruit and vegetable products were Russia (23.7%), Pakistan (19.5%), Afghanistan (12.5%), and Kazakhstan (9.7%).

In January 2025, Russia accounted for the largest share of fruit and vegetable exports in value terms (23.7% of the total volume), surpassing, for instance, Kazakhstan by 2.4 times.

The export of textile products in January 2025 amounted to US$198.5 million, making up 15.2% of total exports. Compared to the same period in 2024, this figure decreased by 20.8%.

In the structure of textile exports, finished textile products accounted for the largest share (44.6%), followed by yarn (35.7%).

The export of services in January 2025 reached US$492.1 million, accounting for 37.6% of total trade exports, marking a 21.9% increase compared to January 2024. The largest share of service exports was attributed to travel (tourism) (47.6%), transport services (37.1%), telecommunications, computer, and information services (8.3%), and other business services (4.2%). Among other services (4.2%), the largest contributions came from construction services (1.5%), financial services (1.0%), personal, cultural, and recreational services (0.4%), and others.

During the reporting period, imports amounted to US$3,199.5 million, reflecting a 4.4% increase compared to January 2024. The primary categories in the import structure included machinery and transport equipment (35.3%), industrial goods (15.8%), and chemicals and related products (12.8%).

An analysis of import dynamics showed that in January 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, the volume of imported goods increased by US$43.3 million, reaching US$2,866.8 million, while the import of services amounted to US$332.8 million.

The share of imports from CIS countries increased by 3.3% compared to January 2024, reaching 32.6% by the end of January 2025.

Overall, Uzbekistan imported goods and services from 137 countries in January 2025. More than two-thirds of total imports came from major trading partners such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Türkiye, South Korea, and India.

A significant share of the country’s imports was concentrated in Tashkent, accounting for 47.3% (or US$1,512.3 million), while the smallest share was recorded in the Republic of Karakalpakstan at 0.8% (or US$24.7 million).

The volume of service imports in January 2025 reached US$332.8 million, making up 10.4% of total imports, and increased by 38.5% compared to January 2024.

In the structure of service imports, the largest share was attributed to travel (tourism – 63.9%), transport services (17.0%), telecommunications, computer, and information services (7.3%), and other business services (7.2%).

Additionally, other services accounted for 4.6% of total imports, with significant contributions from technical maintenance and repair services not classified elsewhere (1.8%), insurance and pension services (0.8%), as well as personal, cultural, and recreational services (0.8%), among others.

By the end of January 2025, the volume of imported industrial goods reached US$504.8 million, marking a 3.8% decline compared to the same period in 2024, while its share in total imports stood at 15.8%.

Industrial imports were primarily composed of pig iron and steel (US$228.4 million), metal products (US$64.2 million), textile yarn, fabrics, and finished textile products (US$46.7 million), rubber products (US$46.4 million), and others.