Gas extraction declines while fuel and electricity output surge in Uzbekistan

The National Statistics Committee has released its industrial production report for January 2026, revealing a complex landscape of declining raw resource extraction alongside significant growth in processed fuels and electricity generation.

According to the report, natural gas production in the first month of the year fell to 3.7 billion cubic meters, marking a decrease of 0.3 billion cubic meters, or 7.5%, compared to the same period in 2025. This downward trend aligns with the "Uzbekistan – 2030" strategy, which forecasts a total gas extraction of 40.2 billion cubic meters for the current year. This target is 3.6% lower than the 2025 figures.

However, long-term projections suggest a recovery in the sector over the coming years:

2027 – 42.9 billion cubic meters (+6.7%)
2028 – 44.5 billion cubic meters (+3.7%)
2029 – 45.5 billion cubic meters (+2.2%)
2030 – 48.5 billion cubic meters (+6.6%)

During January, gas exports remained halted, while imports reached approximately $167 million – a 6.9-fold increase compared to January 2025. Other extractive industries also saw declines, with oil production dropping from 55,100 tons to 54,100 tons (–1.8%) and gas condensate falling from 99,700 tons to 83,400 tons (–16.3%).

Surge in fuel and electricity production

In contrast to the extraction figures, the production of refined petroleum products showed robust growth. Diesel fuel production increased by 144%, rising from 33,200 tons in January 2025 to 81,000 tons in January 2026. Similarly, gasoline production grew by 11.7%, reaching 110,600 tons.

The power sector also demonstrated positive momentum. Total electricity generation rose from 7.57 billion kWh to 8.18 billion kWh year-on-year. A notable shift in the sector’s structure was observed: while electricity production from large-scale enterprises decreased by 2%, the volume generated by small business entities surged by 46.5%.

Automotive industry sees sharp increase

Uzbekistan’s automotive sector started the year with significant gains. In January 2026, the country produced 22,099 passenger cars, representing an increase of 6,486 units, or 41.5%, over the previous year's performance. Statistics indicate that this growth was consistent across all vehicle models currently manufactured in the country.