[REVISION HISTORY]

Uzbekistan trade expansion and infrastructure ties

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2026-09-07 05:13 UTC → 2026-09-07 10:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, Uzbekistan intensified its regional trade outreach through a dual-track strategy involving Afghanistan and China. By July 27, Uzbekistan had deepened ties with Afghanistan, signing 22 trade agreements worth over $200 million. Officials pledged to raise annual bilateral trade to $5 billion, with Afghanistan becoming one of Uzbekistan’s ten largest trading partners. To mitigate security uncertainties regarding the trans-Afghan corridor to Pakistani ports, Tashkent has also prioritized developing China-based overland corridors as a reliable fallback. Simultaneously, Uzbekistan’s commerce with China saw significant growth. In the first half of 2026, bilateral trade volumes rose 31% to $8.87 billion. Non-gold exports increased by 32.2% to $14.4 billion, driven by services, textiles, mining, metallurgy, and food products. This expansion helped Uzbekistan reach a total of 211 export markets. By late August, financial cooperation with China moved toward large-scale infrastructure. Uzbekistan and the Export-Import Bank of China reviewed a joint project portfolio exceeding $5.7 billion, covering hydropower, water infrastructure, agriculture, and transportation. Trade diversification continued as Afghanistan emerged as Uzbekistan’s third-largest export destination in the first half of 2026, with exports totaling $961.5 million. By early September, trade with Afghanistan continued to climb, reaching $1.2 billion during the first seven months of 2026. According to the National Statistical Committee of Uzbekistan, this growth places Afghanistan as the country’s fifth-largest trading partner, following China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Additionally, Uzbekistan expanded commercial ties with the UAE through the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, which launched the Uzbekistan Business Council to support a non-oil trade volume that has reached $2.8 billion. By early September 2026, the partnership with China evolved into a “comprehensive strategic partnership” characterized by deepened political, parliamentary, and interparty cooperation. Following a meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and a Chinese delegation, bilateral trade volumes were reported to exceed $17 billion.

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