Uzbekistan Retail Trade Turnover Surges 14.7% in January 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s retail trade turnover reached 32.7 trillion soums in January 2026, marking a 14.7% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Committee.

The data highlights a significant divergence in growth rates between large and small enterprises. Large businesses contributed 6.77 trillion soums to the total, reflecting a robust growth rate of 37.7%. Meanwhile, small businesses and individual entrepreneurs accounted for the lion’s share of the market at 25.93 trillion soums, despite a more modest growth rate of 9.4%.

As of 1 February 2026, the retail sector comprised 87,070 active commercial entities. This network includes 344 large enterprises and 86,726 small and micro-enterprises.

The wholesale sector also demonstrated upward momentum, with turnover hitting 35.38 trillion soums in January—a 15.6% increase over January 2025. Large enterprises generated 9.98 trillion soums (up 22.1%), while small businesses provided 25.4 trillion soums (up 13.2%). Small business remains the backbone of the wholesale industry, holding a 71.8% market share. The wholesale landscape currently consists of 52,605 active firms.

The catering and food service industry mirrored this expansionary trend. As of early February, the sector included 26,877 active establishments, dominated by 26,763 small and micro-enterprises. Total catering turnover for January reached 15.17 trillion soums, representing an 18.9% year-on-year increase. Small businesses remain the primary drivers in this segment, commanding 82.4% of the total turnover, while large enterprises held a 17.6% share.

These figures underscore the continued dynamic development of Uzbekistan’s trade and service sectors, characterized by a substantial reliance on small business to sustain momentum across retail, wholesale, and hospitality segments.