Uzbekistan's SCO freight traffic jumps 40% to 33.5m tonnes

China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan, Afghanistan-Pakistan railways key to regional connectivity

ISLAMABAD:

Freight traffic between Uzbekistan and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states increased by around 9 million tonnes, or 40%, over the past five years, reaching 33.5 million tonnes in 2025 and accounting for about 80% of Uzbekistan's total international freight traffic, according to figures cited by the country's Ministry of Transport.

The SCO is placing transport and logistics connectivity at the centre of its regional agenda as geopolitical tensions reshape global trade routes and supply chains. For Uzbekistan, an active member of the organisation, stronger transport cooperation has become a strategic priority, creating opportunities to connect Central Asia more closely with China, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Russia accounted for 33% of the volume, Kazakhstan 32%, China 16% and Kyrgyzstan 10%. Freight traffic between Uzbekistan and SCO member states could rise to as much as 47 million tonnes by 2030, according to estimates.

With the SCO now comprising 10 member states, the organisation covers a vast geographic area across Eurasia, creating significant potential for developing alternative land routes at a time when geopolitical disruptions are increasing pressure on traditional supply chains.

Key strategic documents adopted since 2022 have focused on developing efficient transport corridors, digitalising logistics and promoting decarbonisation. A major challenge remains the lack of sufficient railway connectivity between several SCO sub-regions. Infrastructure gaps, differences in railway gauges and technical standards, as well as complicated border procedures, continue to limit the creation of an integrated Eurasian rail network. Uzbekistan is supporting several projects with far-reaching regional implications. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, construction of which officially began in December 2024, is a 532.5-kilometre line that could carry 8 million tonnes of freight annually by 2030.

Another strategically important initiative is the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway. The proposed line could establish a shorter overland connection between Central and South Asia, linking Eurasian markets with Pakistan's seaports. In July 2025, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan signed a framework agreement on preparing a feasibility study.

Preliminary estimates suggest the corridor could handle up to 22 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030 and 34 million tonnes by 2040.