In January–March 2026, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover reached USD 18.0 billion, increasing by 2.7% compared to the same period of the previous year . Beyond volume growth, the defining feature of this period is the structural transformation of external economic activity.
Expansion of Trade Turnover and Deepening Integration
Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its global trade engagement, maintaining economic relations with more than 170 countries . China (25.6%), Russia (18.2%), and Kazakhstan (7.2%) remain the largest trading partners, reflecting stable regional and strategic economic ties.
At the same time, trade volumes with countries such as France, the UAE, and Afghanistan have increased, indicating diversification of export markets.
Qualitative Transformation of Export Structure
Despite an overall decline in total exports to USD 5.8 billion, a critical factor is the structural shift. Exports excluding specific categories increased by 26.2%, reaching USD 3.48 billion , indicating strengthening of the real sector.
Key growth segments include:
- Industrial goods — USD 1.03 billion (+15.3%)
- Chemical products — +46.2%
- Miscellaneous manufactured goods — +86.2%
- Machinery and equipment — +14.0%
Additionally, as shown on page 3 of the report, services accounted for 40.1% of total exports, increasing by 26.8%. The main drivers are tourism (48%), transport services, and ICT services.
The agricultural sector continues to show stable performance. Fruit and vegetable exports reached USD 317.7 million, growing by 12.4% (page 6) . Export volumes increased to 339.9 thousand tons, reflecting improved efficiency in agriculture and logistics.
The textile sector also strengthened its position: exports reached USD 739.9 million (+17.6%), with more than half represented by finished textile products (page 7) . This indicates a transition from raw materials to higher value-added production.
Imports as a Driver of Modernization
Imports increased by 30.8% to USD 12.2 billion . The structure of imports highlights an investment-oriented pattern:
- Machinery and transport equipment — 33.8%
- Industrial goods — 13.9%
- Chemical products — 12.0%
The increase in imports of equipment and technologies reflects an active phase of industrial modernization.
Conclusion
The current dynamics of Uzbekistan’s foreign trade reflect a transition from quantitative growth to qualitative transformation. Key indicators include:
- diversification of trade partners;
- increasing share of processed and industrial goods;
- significant expansion of service exports;
- investment-driven import structure.
Despite the presence of a negative trade balance, the structure of trade suggests strong long-term foundations for sustainable economic growth and enhanced competitiveness.
Source: National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan