Uzbekistan imported oil and petroleum products worth $949.4 million in January-June 2026, a 17.2% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the State Customs Committee. In the first half of 2025, imports stood at $810.4 million, meaning import costs rose by $139 million.
Gasoline accounted for the largest share of imports. The country imported 691.4 million liters of gasoline, up 73.7% year-on-year. In value terms, gasoline imports surged 78.5% to $409.5 million from $229.4 million. The average import price of gasoline was $592 per 1,000 liters, up from $576 a year earlier. Prices have risen sharply in recent months: $576 in April, $632 in May, and $727 in June.
Diesel fuel imports, however, declined. Some 283,000 tons of diesel were imported in the six months, down 18.7% year-on-year. The value of deliveries fell 11.1% to $228.9 million from $257.5 million. The average import price rose 9.4% to $809 per ton. In June, diesel imports plummeted to just 2,800 tons, 18.7 times less than in June 2025.
Liquefied petroleum gas (propane) imports nearly tripled to 156,200 tons, with value soaring 3.6 times to $86.3 million. The average import price of propane rose 31.7% to $553 per ton. Lubricant deliveries increased 20.8% to 54,900 tons, valued at $98.5 million, up 22.9%.
Kerosene imports fell sharply, dropping 2.5 times to 19,500 tons, with value down 59.9% to $19.7 million. This is linked to heightened tensions around Iran and disruptions in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, according to IATA. Aviation fuel prices soared: $879 per ton in April, $1,101 in May, and $1,393 in June. On June 12, Uzbekistan Airways announced a reduction in flight frequency to Russia due to fuel shortages and price hikes.
Fuel oil imports plunged 12.4 times to 18,700 tons, with value falling from $93.2 million to $5.3 million. In June, total oil product imports were $89.9 million, down 22.3% year-on-year and 36.9% from May.
First Deputy Energy Minister Umid Mamadaminov said domestic production exceeds 1.2 million tons, with private entrepreneurs importing an additional 600,000-700,000 tons. Imports thus account for about one-third of the market. Economist Otabek Bakirov estimates gasoline import dependency at 50%.
On June 29, the exchange price of AI-92 gasoline hit a record high of 13.92 million soums per ton. Retail prices also rose: at Carvon stations, a liter of AI-92 increased from 12,400 to 13,000 soums. According to the State Statistics Committee, gasoline prices rose an average of 3.9% in June and 16.7% year-on-year.
Source: www.gazeta.uz