According to Oleg Korobchenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan, trade turnover between Tatarstan and Uzbekistan may exceed $500 million by the end of the current year. This figure reflects an increase of approximately 13.5 percent compared to last year. The statement was made by Oleg Korobchenko at the Tatarstan-Uzbekistan business forum held in Kazan, which gathered about 200 enterprises from both regions.
Before the event, Korobchenko inspected the exhibition of Uzbek products. He noted that almost all major Tatarstan enterprises interact with the Uzbek market, either by supplying products or purchasing raw materials and goods. Special attention was paid to cooperation in the light industry, as Tatarstan companies processing synthetic fibers from oil regularly purchase cotton and wool in raw form from Uzbekistan.
Tatarstan became one of the first Russian regions to invest in the economy of Uzbekistan by building four industrial parks in Chirchik, Navoi, Jizzakh, and Bukhara. Oleg Korobchenko reported that the industrial park in Chirchik, established in 2021, is fully occupied, and the other sites are also operational. He also emphasized the low rental cost in these zones, which ranges from $1.5 to $2 per square meter, as well as the absence of taxes and additional payments for residents.
Talia Minullina, head of the Investment Development Agency of Tatarstan, presented data indicating that total Russian investments in the economy of Uzbekistan reach nearly $5 billion. She noted, however, that the reverse flow of investment from Uzbekistan to Tatarstan remains significantly smaller. She cited historical and cultural ties, Uzbekistan's openness to investment, and the active participation of entrepreneurs at the forum in mid-summer as key factors bringing the business communities of both sides closer.
Odilxon Rustamov, Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, reported that mutual trade between Uzbekistan and Russia has reached a volume of about $13 billion, and the number of enterprises with Russian capital in Uzbekistan continues to grow. He identified the textile and leather industries, food production and chemical products, furniture and construction sectors, as well as the agro-industrial sector as the most promising areas for joint work.
Shamil Ageyev, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tatarstan, drew the attention of Uzbek participants to the difficulties faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in Russia, including tax issues. Nevertheless, he stated that the Tatarstan market remains open to new partners despite general external economic pressure.
Uzbek producers also showcased their products at the forum, including a weaving factory from Tashkent that produces knitwear, towels, and bedding from 100% cotton. A representative of the factory, Maksud Shakirov, specified that the enterprise produces 6.5 metric tons of fabric daily and already supplies it to sewing factories in Moscow and Kostroma specializing in children's clothing. Odilxon Rustamov led the Uzbek delegation at the forum, which included more than 100 entrepreneurs.
According to the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics, the turnover of Uzbekistan's foreign trade from January to June 2026 reached 41 billion US dollars. This figure demonstrates an increase of $2.8 billion, which is 7.4% compared to the same period last year.
The growth in trade volume was driven by an increase in imports against a decrease in export volumes. Imports grew by 21% year-on-year, reaching $25.1 billion, while exports decreased by 8.8%, amounting to $15.9 billion. Consequently, the foreign trade deficit increased to $9.3 billion, up from $3.4 billion the previous year.
The main reason for the overall decline in exports was the sharp reduction in non-monetary gold supplies. The value of gold exports fell from $6.5 billion to $1.5 billion, and its share in the total export volume decreased from 37.3% to 9.5%. However, excluding gold, goods exports increased by 28.7% to $8.2 billion.
In the export structure, industrial goods accounted for 15.2%, other handmade products for 8.6%, food and live animals for 8.3%, and chemical products for 8.1%. Industrial goods exports grew to $2.4 billion, an increase of 22.8%, with textile yarn and fabric leading at $975.9 million and non-ferrous metals at $882 million. Exports of other handmade products almost doubled, reaching $1.36 billion, and clothing exports increased by 31.4% to $629.9 million. Chemical exports rose to $1.28 billion, mainly due to inorganic chemicals worth $789.1 million.
Exports of food and live animals increased by 9%, totaling $1.32 billion. The statistical agency noted an increase in fruit and vegetable supplies: 1,086,700 tons were exported over the six-month period for a total of $872.9 million, which is 3% more than the previous year. Supplies of onions, cabbage, carrots, and garlic increased in this category, while exports of sweet cherries and apricots decreased.
Textile exports grew by 24.1% to $1.6 billion, accounting for 10.1% of total merchandise exports. Finished textile goods made up 52.6% of textile exports, and yarn accounted for 31.1%. Services exports showed the strongest growth, increasing by 35.7% to $6.2 billion, representing 39.1% of the country's total export volume. Tourism and travel accounted for 52.9% of service exports, and transport services for 31.6%. Telecommunication and information services accounted for 8.8%, followed by other business services at 3%.
Imports of goods and services increased by 21% to $25.1 billion. Goods imports grew by $4 billion to $22.2 billion, while services imports reached $3 billion, an increase of 12.3%.
Machinery and transport equipment became the dominant item of import, accounting for 32.8% or $8.25 billion, an increase of 25.1%. In this group, automotive supplies showed the largest growth, increasing by 31.7% to $2 billion, with passenger car imports rising by 84.5%. Supplies of power generation equipment grew by 56%, and telecommunications equipment imports almost doubled.
Industrial goods accounted for 14.8% of imports, or $3.73 billion, led by cast iron and steel worth $1.48 billion. Chemical imports accounted for 12.1% totaling $3 billion, with medical and pharmaceutical products making up the largest share at $966.4 million. Food and live animal imports increased by 44.2% to $2.82 billion, including a 67.3% rise in grain imports to $761.1 million.
Petrol imports sharply increased by 78.5% to $409.5 million, while diesel fuel imports decreased by 11.1%. In the services sector, tourism and travel led imports at 43.8%, followed by transport services at 27.5%.
According to the report, Uzbekistan maintains trade relations with more than 195 countries. China remains the country's largest partner in terms of total trade volume with a share of 23.1%, followed by Russia with a share of 17.1%. Kazakhstan provided 6.8%, Turkey 3.4%, and Afghanistan 2.6%. Trade with Afghanistan grew by almost 50% over the year, reaching $1.08 billion.
Russia was the leading export destination, accounting for 14.9% of total exports, and China for 9%. Afghanistan accounted for 6.1%, while Kazakhstan and France each contributed 4.5%, Hong Kong 3.4%, and Turkey 3.3%. These five countries together accounted for more than half of Uzbekistan's exports. Exports to Hong Kong increased more than eightfold, from $72 million to $594.7 million.
The situation changed for imports: China took the first place with a share of 32%, and Russia 18.5%. Kazakhstan provided 8.2%, South Korea 3.6%, Turkey 3.5%, Germany 2.1%, and India 2%. These seven countries supply more than 70% of all goods and services imported into Uzbekistan.
