Tashkent airport cargo terminal volumes surge by one-third

Image: CentralAsia+Aero

In the first half of 2026, the cargo terminal at Tashkent International Airport (TAS) processed over 48,000 tons of cargo and mail—a 33.2% year-on-year surge, according to the state-run management company Uzbekistan Airports.

Export volumes since the start of the year included over 1,100 tons of agricultural produce. On the import side, the facility handled more than 15,000 tons of general cargo, some 4,700 tons of perishables, and nearly 1,200 tons of live animals.

As one of Central Asia’s primary aviation hubs, Tashkent commissioned its new cargo complex in March 2025, significantly boosting its strategic position along international transit and logistics corridors.

The development of the modern terminal was driven by sustained growth in air freight traffic and the physical constraints of legacy infrastructure. The legacy complex was capped at a capacity of just 30,000 tons annually. The new facility quadrupled overall annual throughput capacity to 120,000 tons.

In 2025, total cargo and mail throughput reached over 88,000 tons, with full-year 2026 volumes projected to hit 92,000 tons.

The operational footprint currently enables daily handling capacity of up to 500 tons. Average processing turnaround times—from aircraft arrival to final release to consignees—stand at 3 to 4 hours.

To support further growth, construction is underway on two additional covered staging areas spanning over 6,000 square meters. The added footprint will further enhance processing speeds and operational efficiency, stated Uzbekistan Airports.

The terminal is operated by Uzbekistan Airports Cargo (UzCargo), a subsidiary established in November 2022 to oversee the capital airport’s freight operations. UzCargo provides cargo handling, warehousing, ramp services, and transport documentation processing.