DP World to Start Construction of $288 Million Tashkent Logistics Hub

Source：The Times Of Central Asia，“DP World to Begin Construction of $288 Million Tashkent Dry Port”，31 August ，2026

https://timesca.com/tashkent-dry-port-dp-world-construction/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

DP World, the Dubai-based port and logistics operator, is set to begin construction of a multimodal terminal in Tashkent in October 2026. Valued at more than $288 million, the dry port will bring rail and road freight, warehousing, and customs infrastructure together on one site, aiming to reduce cargo-handling costs in landlocked Uzbekistan. The construction schedule was announced by Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov at a ceremony on August 25.

DP World and Tashkent Invest signed the project agreement in October 2025. DP World holds an 85% stake in the joint venture, while Tashkent Invest, the city administration’s investment company, owns the remaining 15%.

The facility will occupy about 82 hectares in the Yangi Avlod Special Industrial Zone in southern Tashkent. It will include a rail-connected dry port, customs and warehouse facilities, vehicle storage areas, and its own freight railway station, with access to the national rail network, major highways, and Tashkent International Airport.

The first of three construction phases will deliver a rail terminal with annual capacity of 150,000 TEUs and 63,000 square meters of warehousing. A further 163,000 square meters of warehouse space is planned in later phases, subject to demand.

Uzbekistan is one of only two double-landlocked countries in the world, alongside Liechtenstein. Long distances, multiple borders, and the need to transfer freight between transport modes raise foreign trade costs. In the latest World Bank Logistics Performance Index, Uzbekistan ranked 88th among 139 economies, improving from 129th in 2014.

Pressure on the transport system is increasing with economic and trade growth. The World Bank estimates that transport accounts for nearly 8% of Uzbekistan’s GDP and around 1 million jobs. Road capacity may need to expand by roughly 500% by 2030 to accommodate projected freight volumes. In March 2026, the World Bank approved $200 million to modernize transport infrastructure and support sector reforms.

Uzbekistan is also expanding external freight routes. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is under construction. To the west, the country is seeking more freight capacity through Kazakhstan’s Caspian ports, which connect to the Middle Corridor toward the South Caucasus, Turkey, and Europe. Uzbek freight handled through Aktau and Kuryk rose more than 60% in 2025. To the south, a new cargo terminal opened in May on the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway in Afghanistan, while the proposed Trans-Afghan railway remains at the feasibility-study stage and is eventually intended to provide access to Pakistani seaports.

The DP World terminal would give Tashkent a major inland hub for cargo moving along these routes. The company says the facility is intended to connect Central Asia with its Middle East and Europe network and lower logistics costs. Its impact will depend on how efficiently goods move across Uzbekistan’s borders and through neighboring transport systems.

Uzbekistan’s infrastructure push and industrial expansion are increasing demand for smoother supply chains and reliable access to equipment, parts, and industrial consumables. As projects such as the Tashkent dry port improve freight connectivity, trade in hardware and construction-related products is likely to grow. Central Asia International Hardware Expo (CAIHE) offers a focused platform for regional suppliers and buyers in this segment, supporting the country’s broader infrastructure and industrial modernization efforts.