SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Bilateral trade and transport volumes between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are surging following the introduction of a free trade regime between the two nations, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul said Monday. Total trade turnover reached 80.1 million dollars in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 42.5 percent increase from the same period last year.
The economic expansion is driven by established intergovernmental platforms, including a joint commission that held its 14th meeting in Baku in June 2025. These institutional ties, alongside a regional business council established in 2020 and upcoming regional forums, have facilitated a diversification of goods and strengthened logistics chains connecting the two economies.
Full-year trade turnover for 2025 totaled 307.3 million dollars, representing a 14.6 percent rise from the previous year. Exports from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan grew by 7.8 percent to 227.3 million dollars, while imports from Azerbaijan surged 39.3 percent to 80 million dollars.
Uzbekistan expanded its exports across 230 product categories last year, observing strong growth in tobacco products, copper wire, grapes, nuts, household appliances, and petroleum products. The country also introduced 116 new export categories valued at 7.8 million dollars, while importing industrial resources like sugar, aluminum, and metal pipes from Azerbaijan.
This trade growth relies on expanding logistics infrastructure across rail, road, and air networks. Total cargo transportation volume between the two countries reached 154,300 tons in 2025, an increase of 28.3 percent, with transit cargo operations growing 1.4 times over the same period.
The logistical expansion has accelerated into the current year, with first-quarter cargo volumes in 2026 rising by 88 percent to reach 58,700 tons. The two nations currently maintain transport connectivity through 14 regular weekly flights operating on the route between Tashkent and Baku.
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