DUSHANBE, July 14, 2015, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan has reportedly increased aluminum exports for the first time in recent years.
The head of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, Abdufattoh Ghoib, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 14 that Tajikistan has exported 61,200 tons of primary aluminum over the first six months of this year, which was 3.6 percent more than in the same period last year.
In January-June 2014, Tajikistan exported 60,000 tons primary aluminum.
We will recall that Tajikistan last year exported 125,000 tons of primary aluminum, which was 75,000 tons fewer than in 2013. In 2013, Tajikistan exported 200,000 tons of aluminum. In 2012, Tajikistan reportedly exported 265,000 tons of aluminum.
The Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) is one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world and provides up to 70% of the country’s foreign currency earnings, consuming 40% of the country’s electrical power. TALCO is wholly owned by the Tajik government. Tajikistan does not mine alumina but imports the raw material through tolling arrangements.
Construction of the Tajik aluminum plant (TadAZ) began in 1972, and the first pouring of aluminum took place on March 31, 1975. On April 3, 2007, TadAZ was officially renamed to TALCO – Tajik Aluminum Company.
