From Landlocked to Land-Linked: Uzbekistan’s Pivot to a Multi-Corridor Economy

For decades, Uzbekistan’s double-landlocked status was viewed as a geographic liability. However, recent data suggests a structural pivot: the country is transforming logistics from a cost center into a standalone export industry. In 2025, transport services accounted for 33% of Uzbekistan's service exports, a figure that climbed to 36.2% by May 2026. The Cost of Distance The economic urgency of this shift is driven by staggering overheads. World Bank estimates show that shipping a container from Uzbekistan to Rotterdam exceeds €5,000, and to Shanghai, €5,500. For some agricultural exporters, transport costs can reach 200% of production costs. This reality has shifted the state's focus: competitiveness is no longer sought through production subsidies, but through the aggressive optimization of corridors and customs. Strategic Territorialization Under the Concept for the Development of the Transport and Logistics System until 2030, Uzbekistan is moving away from fragmented planning toward territorial specialization. As of July 2026, the government has designated specific "gates" to anchor different geopolitical vectors: