BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 9. Uzbekistan's
industrial sector maintained steady growth in the first half of
2026, with manufacturing remaining the dominant driver of
production despite continued declines in natural gas and crude oil
output.


The figures were released by Uzbekistan's National Statistics
Committee.


According to the committee, industrial production totaled 637.2
trillion soums (about $53.3 billion) during January–June 2026,
representing an 8% increase compared with the same period last
year.


Manufacturing accounted for the largest share of industrial
output at 549.7 trillion soums (around $46 billion), or 86.3% of
total production, followed by mining and quarrying at 42.4 trillion
soums (approx. $3.5 billion) (6.7%), electricity, gas, steam and
air conditioning supply at 41.7 trillion soums (about $3.4 billion)
(6.5%), and water supply, sewerage and waste management at 3.3
trillion soums (around $276.5 million) (0.5%).


Among key industrial products, natural gas production declined
to 18.3 billion cubic meters from 21.9 billion cubic meters a year
earlier, while crude oil output fell to 313,800 tons from 323,900
tons. Coal production also decreased to 2.5 million tons, compared
with 3 million tons in the first half of 2025.


At the same time, output of several manufactured products
increased. Portland cement production rose to 10.1 million tons
from 9.9 million tons, gasoline output climbed to 614,200 tons, and
diesel fuel production increased to 568,000 tons.


Uzbekistan's automotive industry also expanded during the
reporting period. Passenger vehicle production increased to 235,794
units, up from 208,975 a year earlier, while truck production rose
to 2,751 units from 2,268.







Among passenger car models, production of the Chevrolet Cobalt
increased to 82,951 units, BYD output nearly doubled to 13,405
units from 7,000, and KIA production rose to 15,184 units from
11,763. Output of the Chevrolet Damasdeclined to 42,663 vehicles
from 45,992.


Electricity generation reached 44.1 billion kilowatt-hours, an
increase of 5.7% year on year. Production by small power producers
rose sharply to 14.3 billion kilowatt-hours, while output from
large power plants declined to 29.8 billion kilowatt-hours.


According to Trend's analysis, Uzbekistan's industrial performance
in the first half of 2026 highlights the country's ongoing
structural transition from resource extraction toward higher
value-added manufacturing. While natural gas production fell by
16.4%, coal output declined 16.7%, gas condensate production
dropped 19.7%, and crude oil production decreased 3.1%, overall
industrial output still expanded by 8%, underscoring the growing
role of manufacturing in supporting economic growth.


The automotive industry remained one of the strongest
contributors to industrial expansion. Passenger vehicle production
increased by 12.8%, driven by robust growth in newer brands such as
BYD, whose output surged 91.5%, and KIA, which expanded 29%. The
continued rise in domestic automobile production, alongside higher
output of cement and refined petroleum products, suggests that
investment in manufacturing capacity and infrastructure is
offsetting weaker performance in the extractive industries.


The energy sector also reflects Uzbekistan's changing industrial
landscape. Although total electricity generation increased 5.7%,
production by small power producers climbed nearly 37%, while
generation by large power plants declined by about 4.6%. This shift
indicates increasing participation of private and smaller-scale
electricity producers, consistent with the government's strategy to
diversify power generation, expand renewable energy capacity and
reduce reliance on traditional centralized production. Together,
these trends point to a more diversified industrial base that is
increasingly driven by manufacturing, private investment and energy
sector reforms rather than hydrocarbon extraction alone.