Abstract
The quality and efficiency of regional transport and logistics systems influence freight transportation costs, speed, reliability and competitiveness in international trade. Therefore, this study investigates the 2014-2024 economic efficiency of the Uzbekistan regional Transport-Logistics Complex and presents mechanisms for improving it. A composite (analytical framework) combining output-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA-CCR) with trend decomposition, was used to assess efficiencies across four macro-regions using freight throughput, transport cost share and modal energy intensity measures. The results show that Uzbekistan's overall logistics performance index improved from 129th place in 2014 to 88th place by 2023. Freight throughput increased from 89.4 billion ton;km in 2014 to 126.2 billion ton;km by 2024, while average regional DEA efficiency improved from 0.60 to 0.77, but the 0.22-point efficiency gap between the Tashkent and Khorezm-Karakalpakstan macro-regions was unchanged. The rail electrification and digital integration of customs operations are identified as key drivers of efficiency convergence; therefore, key development mechanisms recommended are: targeted infrastructure investment; multimodal corridor digitisation and interregional terminal coordination.