Uzbekistan’s gas exports rise by 9%, despite previous plans to halt them

In January 2025, Uzbekistan exported natural gas worth $21.8 million, marking a 9% increase compared to the same period last year. However, five years ago, authorities announced plans to halt gas exports starting in 2025.

The Statistics Agency reported that the country exported $21.8 million worth of natural gas in the first month of 2025, a 9% rise from January 2024.

Additionally, the export of oil, petroleum products, and similar materials increased by 48.2% year-on-year, reaching $30.2 million. Moreover, the country exported $17.2 million worth of electricity last month.

Official statistics indicate that Uzbekistan continues exporting natural gas despite domestic demand not being fully met.

In 2020, amid the pandemic, Uzbekistan exported gas worth $478 million. The figure rose to $717 million in 2021 and $911 million in 2022. In 2023, the country became a net importer of natural gas for the first time but still managed to export $530 million worth of gas. In 2024, exports further increased to $628 million.

Notably, in January 2020, during a meeting of the Political Council of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov stated that Uzbekistan planned to halt natural gas exports by 2025.

"By 2025, Uzbekistan will stop exporting natural gas and focus entirely on domestic processing and expanding the production of value-added products," the Prime Minister said at the time.

Kun.uz has sent inquiries to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Energy to clarify whether the plan to cease gas exports in 2025 remains in effect. However, as of several days later, no response has been received.

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