Gas production in Uzbekistan fell by 9.8% in the first five months of the year compared to the same period last year, with production falling for the second consecutive month in May. Meanwhile, electricity production showed record growth in May, while growth in oil production slowed to 3.1%.
Uzbekistan’s international reserves dropped by $837.9 million to $34.37 billion in May, as the value of its gold reserves fell by nearly $1 billion. The decline in gold did not lead to a corresponding rise in foreign exchange reserves.
Uzbekistan produced 16.26 billion cubic meters of gas in January-April 2023, which is a 9.5% decrease from the same period last year. Electricity and heat production also declined, while oil and coal production increased slightly.
Central Asian economies have proven resilient to adverse geopolitical headwinds. The EBRD forecasts that the region’s economies will grow by at least 5.2% on average in 2023 and by around 5.4% in 2024.
Uzbekistan’s international reserves in April decreased by $230 million to a total of $35.2 billion. The decline was mainly due to a reduction in foreign currency reserves.
Food prices in Uzbekistan increased by 1.2% in April 2023, while non-food prices increased by 0.5% and services increased by 0.5%. The largest increase in food prices was for tomatoes, which rose by 21.3%, followed by rice (14.1%), carrots (13.2%), and sugar (10.5%).
Uzbekistan citizens' actual income jumped by 10.8% in Q1 2023, reaching 144 trillion soums, outperforming past years. Inflation-adjusted figures show growth led by employment and transfer incomes, despite industry downtime and declining remittances.
Uzbekistan imported $151.2 million worth of gas in March, more than half of its imports last year. The figure rose sharply against the backdrop of falling domestic gas production. Import of coal, oil and oil products also increased.
Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 5.5% in the first quarter of 2023, surpassing forecasts, despite initial concerns due to industrial setbacks from January’s extreme cold weather. Industrial production and construction work demonstrated a significant rebound, contributing to the economic upturn.
Uzbekistan experienced a 9.6% decline in gas production during Q1 2023, totaling 12.3 billion cubic meters, with electricity production also falling by 5%. The production of thermal energy and coal has fallen as well. This downturn is attributed to reduced tax rates and other industry challenges.
Uzbekistan’s reserve assets reached $35.44 billion in April, driven by a 4.3% increase in gold reserves during March, while foreign currency reserves experienced minor growth. The primary factor behind the expansion was a $1.41 billion surge in gold value, totaling $24.25 billion.
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