TASHKENT - From January to April 2026, gasoline imports into Uzbekistan nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2025, according to data from the country's Customs Committee, Daryo.uz reports.
In the first four months of this year, 568,700 tons of gasoline worth $327.1 million were imported into the country. The average price was approximately $575 per ton. A year earlier, imports reached 280,700 tons worth $163.6 million.
At the same time, domestic fuel production in Uzbekistan is growing. From January to April, 417,500 tons of gasoline were produced, 7% (or 27,500 tons) more than a year earlier, according to the Statistics Committee.
The significant increase in imports is explained by both growing domestic demand and the restructuring of the petroleum products market. As of September 2025, the country will cease production and exchange trading of AI-80 gasoline. Uzbekneftegaz announces a gradual transition to the production of the higher-octane AI-92 gasoline, which will also impact the balance of supply and demand.
Amid these developments, the situation in neighboring countries in the region remains uneven. Kazakhstan, with a more developed oil refining base, generally meets a significant portion of domestic demand through its own production and periodically acts as a net exporter of certain fuels. Kyrgyzstan, by contrast, remains highly dependent on imports and almost entirely covers its gasoline consumption through supplies from abroad, primarily from Russia and Kazakhstan. A similar structure is characteristic of Tajikistan, where domestic fuel production is limited, and the bulk of demand is met by imports.
Thus, despite regional differences, Uzbekistan demonstrates a mixed market supply model—with both imports and domestic gasoline production growing simultaneously.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 3, 2026