The Special Commission of the Committee for the Development of Competition and Consumer Protection has initiated proceedings against propane importers for restricting supply and unjustifiably raising prices in exchange trades. The violations were recorded in November-December 2025 and January 2026, a period when shortages of natural gas led to restrictions on methane refueling, causing a sharp increase in demand for propane and gasoline.
Based on the review of the case and conducted control measures, it was determined that 31 companies violated competition legislation. Specifically, 12 of them were found guilty of engaging in coordinated actions aimed at limiting competition in exchange trades. In other instances, facts of unjustified increases in starting prices were identified, as well as sales of products bypassing the exchange—directly through contracts, contrary to established procedures.
According to the decision of the Special Commission, financial sanctions were applied against the violators. The total amount of fines reached 28.9 billion soums, and additionally, 34.1 billion soums of unjustly obtained funds were ordered to be transferred to the state budget. The companies were also issued mandatory instructions to rectify the violations and prevent such practices in the future.
The Committee reported that as a result of the measures taken, the price of propane on the exchange was reduced by up to 21%. According to Gazeta.uz, over the past year, exchange prices for propane rose by nearly 50%: from January 8, 2025, to January 8, 2026, the price of liquefied gas per ton increased from 6.27 million soums to 9.28 million soums.
The Committee for the Development of Competition explained the situation by changes in market structure: the share of imported propane in exchange trades sharply increased from 20% to 90%, while local production is increasingly directed toward population and social sector needs. According to Customs Committee data studied by Gazeta.uz, in 2025, Uzbekistan increased propane imports by 37% compared to 2024, but the average import price remained almost unchanged, while the exchange price was 80.8% higher. On January 13, the Committee initiated an antitrust case against 92 propane-importing companies, most of which operate in Tashkent and Samarkand region.
Source: www.gazeta.uz