BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Uzbekistan
increased its natural gas imports from Russia and Turkmenistan by
15.2% year on year to $1.21 billion in the period from January
through August 2026, while the country’s gas production continued
to decline.


This was reflected in the statement by Uzbekistan’s National
Statistics Committee.


According to the Statistics Committee, the value of natural gas
imports rose by $150 million compared with $1.06 billion recorded
in 2025.


At the same time, Uzbekistan’s natural gas exports fell sharply.
The country exported gas worth $320 million in January-August 2026,
down $170 million, or 34.8%, from the same period a year
earlier.


The contrasting trends in imports and exports come as domestic
natural gas production continues to decline. Uzbekistan produced
24.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas during the first eight
months of 2026, a decrease of 4.7 billion cubic meters, or 16.3%,
from the same period in 2025.







The figures point to a widening gap between domestic gas
production and demand, increasing the role of imported supplies in
Uzbekistan’s energy market.


Russia has become an important source of additional gas supplies
for Uzbekistan. Russian energy giant Gazprom supplied 6.5 billion
cubic meters of natural gas to Uzbekistan in 2025.


Uzbekistan has been seeking to diversify its gas supply sources
and strengthen regional energy cooperation as declining domestic
production creates additional demand for imported natural gas.


According to Trend's calculation, the value of Uzbekistan’s natural
gas imports from Russia and Turkmenistan increased by about $160
million year on year, rising from an estimated $1.05 billion from
January through August 2025 to $1.21 billion in the same period of
2026. Meanwhile, gas exports declined by approximately $172
million, from an estimated $494 million to $322.3 million. As a
result, Uzbekistan’s natural gas trade deficit widened from about
$556 million to $887.7 million, an increase of approximately $332
million, or 60%. At the same time, domestic natural gas production
fell by about 4.7 billion cubic meters, from an estimated 28.9 bcm
to 24.2 bcm.