According to the State Statistics Committee, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover in January-July 2026 amounted to $49.5 billion, an increase of 8.1% compared to the same period last year.

Exports decreased by 3.6% to $19.93 billion, while imports surged by 17.8% to $29.6 billion. As a result, the negative trade balance widened nearly 2.2 times, from $4.44 billion to $9.67 billion.

The main reason for the export decline was a sharp reduction in non-monetary gold exports. In seven months, gold exports totaled $2.8 billion, down 63.1% from $7.59 billion a year earlier. Gold's share in total exports fell from 36.7% to 14.1%.

However, exports excluding gold rose by 27.7% to $9.8 billion. Services exports increased by 35.3% to $7.33 billion, with more than half (53.8%) coming from travel and tourism. Industrial goods exports grew by 22.4% to $2.87 billion, chemical products by 35% to $1.56 billion, and various finished goods by 89.1% to $1.68 billion.

Imports of machinery and transport equipment rose by 20% to $9.7 billion, food products by 41.9% to $3.29 billion, and chemical products by 15.6% to $3.59 billion.

China remains Uzbekistan's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade rising 33.6% to $11.26 billion. Trade with Russia totaled $8.13 billion (+11.8%), and with Kazakhstan $3.27 billion (+24%). China accounts for 22.7% of Uzbekistan's total trade, Russia for 16.4%, and Kazakhstan for 6.6%.

Exports of fruits and vegetables remained virtually unchanged in volume (1.284 million tons), but fell by 3.9% in value. Shipments of some fruits (cherries, apricots, dried grapes) declined, while peaches and grapes increased. Vegetable exports rose by 20.9% to $200.5 million.

Textile exports increased by 26.6% to $1.9 billion, representing 9.5% of total exports. Imports from China reached $9.56 billion (32.3% of total imports). Overall, Uzbekistan imports goods from more than 160 countries.

Source: www.gazeta.uz