DUSHANBE, July 17, 2009, Asia-Plus — In January-June 2009, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to 1.615.8 billion U.S. dollars, which was 79.4 percent of the January-June 2008 level or 713 million dollars fewer, according to the State Committee for Statistics.
The trade balance was negative and mounted to 793 million US dollars.
Exports of goods in January-June 2009 amounted to 411.4 million US dollars, which was 48 percent, or 380.4 million dollars, fewer than in the same period of 2008.
Imports of goods into the country over the report period have amounted to 1.2044 million US dollars, which was 21.6 percent or 332.7 million dollars fewer than in January-June 2008.
Compared to May 2009 exports and imports last month decreased by 3.2 percent and 9.9 percent respectively.
In January-June 2009, Tajikistan had trade relations with 90 countries of the world, including 11 CIS states. Over the report period the CIS countries accounted for 55.44 percent (666.9 million dollars) of Tajikistan’s imports and the far abroad countries accounted for 78percent (320 million dollars) of the country’s exports.
Compared to January-June 2008 Tajikistan’s trade turnover with the CIS states decreased by 25 percent and with the country’s trade turnover with the far abroad countries decreased by 34.9 percent.
Share of primary aluminum and products from them accounted for 38.6 percent of Tajikistan’s exports in January-June 2008. Over the report period, Tajikistan has exported aluminum and products from them for 225.169 million dollars.
Electrical power accounted for 4.7 percent of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover in the report period. In January-June this year, Tajikistan has exported 1.7487 billion kWh of electricity for 27.2 million U.S. dollars. Over the same four-month period, Tajikistan has imported 2.5319 billion kWh of electrical power for 49.3 million U.S. dollars.
Over the report period, Tajikistan has imported 132.4 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan for 31.8 million U.S. dollars.
Share of cotton fiber accounted for 8.8 percent of Tajikistan’s exports in January-June 2009. Over the report period, Tajikistan exported 35,200 tons of cotton fiber for 36.3 million U.S. dollars, which is 13,900 tons and 29.5 million U.S. dollars fewer than in the same period of last year.
The main trading partners of Tajikistan in regard to its cotton were: Russia – 38.4 percent; Iran – 192 percent; Uzbekistan – 9.0 percent; Belarus – 8.9 percent; Latvia – 8.1 percent; Pakistan – 3.8 percent; Ukraine – 3.7 percent; Switzerland – 31. percent; Bulgaria – 1.7 percent; Turkey – 1.6 percent; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 0.9 percent; Lithuania – 0.6 percent; and Austria – 0.5 percent.
Compared to January-June 2008 an average price of one ton of cotton fiber decreased by $309 and amounted to $1,032.
