Uzbekistan Market Services Volume Increases 16.5 Percent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The volume of market services provided in Uzbekistan during January–May 2026 amounted to 533,079.2 billion soums, representing an increase of 16.5 percent in real terms compared to the same period last year, according to the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics. The committee noted that the data are preliminary and subject to adjustment.

The largest share of market services remains concentrated in Tashkent city, accounting for 41.1 percent of the total volume, or 218,941.1 billion soums, with a real growth index of 118.6 percent. Among the regions, significant volumes were also recorded in Samarkand region (38,406.2 billion soums), Tashkent region (36,208.5 billion soums), and Ferghana region (34,756.1 billion soums). Apart from the capital, the highest growth rates were registered in Navoi region (119.6 percent), the Republic of Karakalpakstan (116.9 percent), and Surkhandarya region (117.1 percent).

The volume of market services per capita across the country stood at 13,915 thousand soums, up from 11,545.7 thousand soums a year earlier, corresponding to a real growth of 14.4 percent. The highest per capita figure was recorded in Tashkent city at 68,698.2 thousand soums, followed by Navoi region (11,520.3 thousand soums) and Tashkent region (11,430.9 thousand soums). The lowest value was observed in Surkhandarya region at 5,708.7 thousand soums.

Small business entities provided 296,398.7 billion soums, or 55.6 percent of the total volume of market services, with a growth rate of 115.9 percent. The highest share of small business in the structure of services was recorded in Ferghana region (75.1 percent), Surkhandarya region (73.8 percent), and Namangan region (72.9 percent). In Tashkent city, despite a comparatively low small business share of 41.2 percent, its absolute volume was the largest in the country at 90,118.4 billion soums.

The primary contributions to the growth of the services sector came from trade (up 14.0 percent, contributing 3.8 percentage points to overall growth), financial services (up 24.9 percent, contributing 3.7 percentage points), accommodation and food services (up 14.1 percent, contributing 2.4 percentage points), and transport services (up 13.3 percent, contributing 2.2 percentage points). Noticeable growth was also shown by communication and information services, which rose by 22.2 percent, and educational services, which increased by 21.0 percent.

In the structure of market services by activity type, trade holds the largest share at 26.6 percent, followed by accommodation and food services at 17.0 percent, transport services at 16.0 percent, and financial services at 15.8 percent. The State Committee on Statistics noted that from January–March 2026, changes were introduced to the methodology for calculating trade services output to account for the dynamics of inventories intended for resale, in line with recommendations from international experts. Comparable data for 2025 have been recalculated to reflect these changes.

The output of trade services reached 141,660.3 billion soums, increasing by 23,202.2 billion soums compared to the revised base of the previous year. Within its structure, retail trade accounts for the largest share at 41.7 percent, followed by wholesale trade at 35.6 percent.

The volume of accommodation and food services grew by 17,353.3 billion soums to 90,748.6 billion soums, with 96.1 percent of this volume coming from the provision of food and beverages. Transport services reached 85,320.5 billion soums, of which more than half, or 52.1 percent (44,484.2 billion soums), was accounted for by road transport.

Financial services rose by 20,121.7 billion soums to reach 84,183.6 billion soums with a growth rate of 124.9 percent. Communication and information services amounted to 39,024.8 billion soums, with computer programming providing nearly half of this volume at 46.1 percent.

The volume of services in the field of education reached 18,783.9 billion soums, of which 44.7 percent was accounted for by higher education, while health services amounted to 9,149.0 billion soums.