Ongoing geopolitical tensions around the world are affecting continental trade routes of strategic importance to Central Asian states. The war in Ukraine, the largest modern crisis in Eurasia, continues to impact the dynamics of cargo transportation along the east-west axis, emphasizing the importance of a diverse approach to logistics organization. Uzbekistan is demonstrating maximum flexibility in this regard, striving to reduce the cost of export and import deliveries and ensure the most effective and ensure access to promising markets, including the European Union.
In 2024, Uzbekistan’s foreign trade with EU countries amounted to $6.4 billion, marking a 5.2% increase. According to last year's results, the country’s top 20 trading partners included several European states, such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy and Poland, with a combined trade turnover of over $1.4 billion. The Northern Corridor, passing through Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, remains the optimal channel for Uzbekistan to deliver goods to the eurozone.
In 2023, over 1 million tons of cargo were transported along the Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-Russia-Belarus-EU railway route. One of the main transshipment hubs is the Małaszewicze railway terminal in Poland, where cargo from Central Asia arrives after crossing the Brest–Terespol checkpoint on the Belarusian–Polish border, before being delivered across Europe. This dry port, located along the Northern Corridor, handles over 90% of rail trade between the EU and China.
In January 2026, the President of Uzbekistan instructed the government to consider creating a dedicated transport corridor for domestic carriers to Poland via Brest in Belarus. This is due to the need for the rapid delivery of perishable goods, primarily fruit and vegetables, to the European market. Meanwhile, Uzbek-Polish trade has declined in recent years due to high logistics costs and the introduction of restrictions related to security risks on routes to western direction using road transport.
In 2025, bilateral trade turnover amounted to $383.7 million, compared to nearly $400 million the previous year. Reorienting freight traffic to railways going to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, with subsequent transshipment of goods into containers or trucks, could significantly reduce the cost of transportation from Central Asia to Europe. However, this would require addressing current issues relating to the shortage of rolling stock and the complexity of customs procedures, which impact the efficiency of northern railway routes.
In order to boost mutual trade and develop their own transit potential, Uzbekistan and Poland are planning to establish joint logistics centers. One of these centers will be located in Mazovia, the largest transport hub in Eastern Europe. This will pave the way for Uzbekistan’s integration into European supply chains and expand the scope for the practical implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, which was signed in October 2025.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
