Uzbekistan is actively pursuing a strategy to substantially increase its transit cargo volumes, particularly for goods moving between China and Europe. Despite a 54% rise in transit cargo to 15.3 million tonnes in 2025 compared to 2021, the country currently captures only a small fraction (1-2%) of the total China-Europe transit market. The government projects that an additional 15-20 million tonnes of transit cargo could generate US$400-600 million in revenue, attract approximately US$3 billion in logistics investments, and create 50,000 new jobs.
This initiative is driven by Uzbekistan's strategic geographical position as a land bridge between East and West. The country is developing six specialized economic zones to support this growth, which will likely involve enhancements to its air, road, and rail infrastructure. For freight forwarders, this presents a potential opportunity for new routing options and increased capacity on the China-Europe corridor, potentially diversifying away from traditional routes and offering competitive transit times. Forwarders should monitor the development of these zones and infrastructure projects for future operational planning.
