Uzbekistan Triples Imports of Russian Liquefied Gas

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan significantly increased its purchases of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia in January–April 2026, according to data reported by the newspaper Kommersant, citing consulting company Kept.

According to Kept expert on oil and gas services development Nikita Illeritskiy, Russian LPG exports rose by 27% in the first four months of the year to 1.43 million tonnes. Of this volume, 537,000 tonnes were supplied to Central Asian countries, marking a 71% increase compared to the same period last year.

Deliveries of liquefied petroleum gases to Uzbekistan reached 231,000 tonnes, increasing 3.5 times compared to January–April 2025.

A notable increase was also recorded in shipments to China, which reached 498,000 tonnes, nearly 2.5 times higher than the previous year. According to the report, the growth in demand is linked to rising prices amid reduced maritime supplies due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Following the escalation of the conflict involving Iran, LPG benchmark prices in Russia surged sharply. The peak was recorded on March 4 at 21,850 rubles per tonne, equivalent to about US$282 at the Central Bank of Russia exchange rate at the time.

From mid-April, prices fluctuated between 18,800 and 19,800 rubles per tonne. However, between May 15 and May 26, prices fell by more than 10%, dropping to 17,790 rubles per tonne, or about US$248, the first decline since March.

Managing partner of trader Proleum, Maksim Dyachenko, linked the decline in propane and butane prices to saturation of the domestic Russian market and limited export capacity.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Semyagin, head of the Rupec analytical center, noted that Russian LPG exports are constrained by a shortage of terminals in the Far East, a lack of rail tank cars and long delays at border crossings.

According to Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee, retail propane prices fell by 2.8% in April compared to March while the price cap remained at 7,000 soums. However, year-on-year LPG prices increased by 16.7%.

In March, Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee fined 31 propane suppliers for unjustified price increases and deliberate reduction of supply volumes. Total fines amounted to 63 billion soums.