Eurasianet says precious metals and mineral are among main export items of Tajikistan.
Tajikistan mines gold and Switzerland reportedly wants it. According to official Tajik trade statistics, Switzerland was Tajikistan’s most lucrative export partner during the first half of 2024, primarily due to shipments of the precious metal.
Tajikistan’s overall foreign trade turnover registered a 22 percent increase over the first six months of this year. Combined turnover amounted to US$4.41 billion during the first half, compared to US$3.42 billion during the same period last year.
Exports for H1 2024 totaled about $997 million, only 23 percent of the turnover total. Nevertheless, the export earnings for H1 this year reportedly represented a big jump over 2023’s figure for the same period.
Almost 30 percent of Tajik export earnings were derived from shipments of gold and other precious commodities to Switzerland.
Other top-ranking export destinations, in terms of the value of goods and services, were China (US$186.8 million); Kazakhstan (US$118.7 million); Turkiye (US$111.1 million); and Uzbekistan (US$80.4 million). Russia (US$36.1 million) lagged far behind the top five buyers of Tajik goods.
Beside precious metals, the top export earners for Tajikistan were cotton, aluminum and antimony, an element often used in the manufacture of semiconductors.
While Tajikistan runs large deficits with most if its major trade partners, especially China, Dushanbe typically enjoys a very healthy surplus with Switzerland. Bilateral trade has exploded over the last decade, driven by Tajik exports of gold, and, to a lesser extent, other precious metals and minerals.
World Gold Council notes that that Gold Reserves in Tajikistan remained unchanged at 8.46 tons in the first quarter of 2024 from 8.46 tons in the fourth quarter of 2023. Gold Reserves in Tajikistan averaged 6.14 tons from 2000 until 2024, reaching an all-time high of 22.33 tons in the second quarter of 2019 and a record low of 0.00 tons in the second quarter of 2002.
