In Uzbekistan, new banking supervision rules have been in effect since May 2026. Client transactions exceeding 175 million UZS, as well as import contracts starting from 2 billion UZS, are now subject to additional scrutiny.

Banks are obligated to request documentary proof of the legal origin of funds and the purpose of the transaction. Special attention is given to minors' accounts: deposits or withdrawals of more than 16.5 million UZS on children's accounts are officially considered a sign of suspicious activity. International transfers exceeding 412 million UZS linked to jurisdictions under increased anti-money laundering (AML) monitoring also undergo enhanced verification.

The changes have affected the foreign trade sector. The monitoring threshold for adjustments in import contracts has been reduced by more than four times—from 8.24 billion to 2 billion UZS. Any modifications to supply agreements exceeding this amount are under the regulator's control. The objective is to streamline currency flows and eliminate unreasonable price inflation in foreign procurement.

On August 9, updated internal control regulations for commercial banks came into force. They are aimed at combating the legalization of illicit proceeds and improving the transparency of financial flows. Banks are required to conduct in-depth identification of participants even for one-off transactions.

For transfers exceeding 10.3 million UZS (25 BRV), banks transmit an expanded set of data about the sender and recipient, including the parties' Personal Identification Numbers (PINFL) and settlement account numbers. This allows the regulator to track the origin of capital and the purpose of payments. Foreign currency withdrawals from other banks' cards amounting to 206 million UZS (500 BRV) or more are also subject to mandatory rigorous checks.

For the Chinese market, the tightening of banking control in Uzbekistan may lead to increased requirements for the documentary support of import contracts and cross-border settlements. Lowering the monitoring threshold to 2 billion UZS increases the compliance burden on Chinese exporters working with Uzbek buyers: a more detailed record of supply terms and price confirmation will be required.

At the same time, this reduces the risks of opaque schemes, benefiting suppliers with a transparent supply chain and a stable pricing policy. Large Chinese companies may gain an advantage due to their readiness for enhanced compliance, while smaller traders will face additional barriers to market entry.