Since the beginning of 2024, the demand for imported freight transportation in Uzbekistan remains high, according to a report by the logistics exchange ATI.SU.

The number of applications for the delivery of goods from other countries in the first quarter increased by 1.5 times compared to the same period in 2023, and prices have risen by a quarter. For example, the number of orders from shippers in Russia grew by 56%, with increases also observed in Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Concurrently, the market for export transportations continues to shrink — in the first quarter, the number of orders decreased by 24%, although the cost increased by 35%. While the decline in transportation to Kazakhstan and Belarus was insignificant, the decrease for the Russian direction amounted to 25%.

Farid Vakhidov, the head of ATI.SU's representative office in Tashkent, pointed to the continuation of trends that emerged at the end of last year. The export segment is adjusting after the "sanction" surge in 2022, compounded by difficulties with new deliveries.

Difficulties with payments due to the expansion of sanctions and the threat of secondary restrictions for banks are cooling the demand for transportations to Russia. Further tightening of banking controls could significantly slow the transport market, notes Vakhidov.

Meanwhile, the rapid growth in demand for imported transportations is explained by the republic's economic development. Last year, Uzbekistan's GDP grew by 6%, doubling the average global growth rates.