A moderate decrease in the Business Activity Index was observed in Uzbekistan

The following changes were observed in the BAI components

The Business Activity Index in September 2024 decreased moderately by 4.2% compared to the previous month and amounted to 958 points, due to changes in the following components:

• the number of transactions on bank accounts of business entities decreased by 8.2%;
• the component related to operating business entities decreased by 2.0%;
• the intensity of the purchase of raw materials on the commodity exchange increased by 0.1%;
• the trademark component decreased by 18.3%.

In the regional context, the Republic of Karakalpakstan showed the highest growth.

In September, the BAI for 9 regions increased compared to the previous month. In particular, the Republic of Karakalpakstan (48.2%), in Navoi (38%), Tashkent (37.9%), Samarkand (37.7%) and Kashkadarya (36.9%) regions (Fig.2).

At the same time, this index in Syrdarya region (-15%) showed a decline.

TRANSACTIONS WITH BANK ACCOUNTS

The number of interbank payment transactions in September amounted to 5,608.9 thousand and decreased by 502.8 thousand transactions (a decrease of 8.2%) compared to August 2024.

The number of banking transactions in 12 regions has increased.

This month, the number of banking transactions between legal entities decreased in 12 regions compared to the previous month. In particular, in Syrdarya (-10.6%), Kashkadarya (-7.8%), Tashkent (-6.4%), Bukhara (-6.4%) regions and in Tashkent (-9.2%).

ACTIVITY ON THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE

This month, the exchange component of the BAI amounted to 0.9795. This means a moderate decrease in the component level by 2.0% compared to the previous month. This decrease is associated with a decrease in the number of transactions by 7.0%. At the same time, the average physical volume of goods purchased in each transaction increased by 2.9%.

At the Republican Commodity Exchange (UzEx), the total turnover this month amounted to 5,166.8 billion sums, which is 8.6% less than in the previous month.

ACTIVITY OF ECONOMIC ENTITIES

The component of operating business entities in September 2024 amounted to 1.0005, which means an increase in the component by 0.1% compared to the level of the previous month. At the same time, this indicator has a negative value compared to the same period last year with a moderate decline of 2.0%.

The number of operating business entities this month increased by 4,618 units compared to August 2024 (488,454 units) and amounted to 493,072 units.

The number of large enterprises decreased by 90 units.

During the reporting period, the number of small enterprises increased from 394,712 to 399,031 units, which is an increase of 4,319 units. Also, the number of farms increased from 89,990 to 90,379 units, which is 389 more units. The number of operating large enterprises amounted to 3,662 units, which is 90 fewer compared to August 2024.

BRAND REGISTRATION

In September 2024, the index of protected trademarks amounted to 0,8172, which means a decrease of 18.3% compared to the previous month. This month, 514 trademarks and trade names were registered by legal entities.

Ruslan Abdullaev, CERR