From January to April this year, Uzbekistan’s natural gas imports soared to USD 463 mln, tripling the amount from the same period last year. The imports surpassed exports by USD 410.5 mln, reinforcing Uzbekistan’s shift to a net importer of natural gas. This increase in imports, particularly from Russia following a two-year contract signed in October 2023 for nearly 2.8 bln cubic meters annually, is due to declining domestic production that no longer meets local demand.