Uzbekistan imported 710,000 tons of gasoline worth $426 million between January and July 2026, the State Customs Committee has reported.
The average purchase price came to roughly $600 per ton. That marks a sharp increase from the same period last year, when import volumes were 54% lower and foreign fuel cost an average of $575 per ton.
By the end of the year, imported gasoline could account for more than half of the domestic market for the first time. Uzbekistan produced nearly 615,000 tons of gasoline domestically in the first half of 2026, with full-year output projected at around 1.1 million tons.
If current purchasing trends continue, imports are expected to make up roughly 50–55% of the country's total gasoline supply by the end of 2026 — around 1.2 million tons.
Analysts attribute the rising reliance on imports to declining crude oil production, limited processing capacity at the Bukhara and Fergana oil refineries, the phase-out of the lower-grade AI-80 gasoline, and growth in both the country's vehicle fleet and overall business activity.
The bulk of imported gasoline comes from Russia, with additional supplies arriving from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. This growing dependence on foreign fuel is driving up foreign currency spending and making retail gas prices increasingly sensitive to shifts in wholesale costs.
Stay up to date with all the latest news:
