Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Domestic and international demand for freight transportation in Uzbekistan showed strong growth in the second quarter of 2025, according to international freight exchange platform ATI.SU. Freight rates for domestic trucking in Uzbekistan rose by 37% compared to the same period last year, while rates on export and import routes remained largely unchanged.

According to ATI.SU, the number of freight transportation requests from Uzbekistan to other countries increased by 89% year-on-year in Q2. Overall, requests for the first half of 2025 rose by 66% compared to the same period in 2024. Despite the higher volume, shipping rates for international routes have held steady.

The strongest growth came from shipments to Russia (+79% in Q2), with additional increases in demand for freight to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus.

Inbound logistics from abroad showed more moderate growth: requests for importing goods into Uzbekistan rose by 34% year-on-year in Q2 but were 15% lower than in Q1 2025. For the entire first half of the year, import shipments increased by 23%, with rates again remaining stable.

While demand for imports from Russia dropped by 16% compared to Q1, there was still a 29% year-on-year increase in Q2 2025. Analysts attribute this quarter-over-quarter decline primarily to the appreciation of the Russian ruble, which has made Russian goods less competitive.

Meanwhile, domestic transportation saw a surge in activity, with requests for internal freight movements up 73% in Q2 and 78% for the first half of the year. The 37% rise in domestic freight rates is seen as a signal of growing market activity and increased competition among logistics providers.

Official statistics also reflect this trend. According to the State Committee of Uzbekistan on Statistics, transport services reached a value of 70.7 trillion soums from January to May 2025 — a 14% increase year-on-year.

"The reduced demand for shipments from Russia can be explained by the stronger ruble and reduced price competitiveness of Russian goods," noted Farid Vakhidov, Head of ATI.SU’s Uzbekistan office.

"At the same time, the overall freight market is expanding steadily — both internationally and domestically. Rates remaining stable on foreign routes is a sign of market stability, mirroring Uzbekistan’s broader economic development," he added.

The growth in demand is also attributed to increased adoption of digital tools. More logistics market players are transitioning away from informal channels like messaging apps in favor of professional platforms like ATI.SU.