Uzbekistan is considering basing its future cargo fleet in the seaports of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to ensure stable handling of export-import cargo and reduce delays along transit routes.
The country has begun exploring mechanisms for leasing and acquiring cargo ferries to operate in the Caspian Sea. Acting Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Shokhrukh Gulamov announced preparations for the project, according to Upl.uz.
According to Gulamov, the creation of a national fleet would mark a new direction for Uzbekistan’s logistics sector. Given that ferry construction requires orders to be placed five to seven years before a vessel enters service, chartering mechanisms are being considered as a faster solution.
In July 2025, the transport agencies of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan signed a cooperation protocol aimed at strengthening coordination in the Caspian region. In August of the same year, the Uzbek side signed a memorandum of cooperation with Turkmenistan in the field of shipbuilding.
