DUSHANBE, April 17, Asia-Plus — Over the first three months of this year, Tajik exports have amounted $328.585 million, which is $30 million fewer than in the same period of 2007, Gurez Zaripov, the chief of Tajikistan’s Customs Service, remarked at a press conference in Dushanbe today.
In January-March 2008, the foreign trade turnover of the country, including electric energy and natural gas, has amounted to $998.426 million.
The customs service chief attributed the decline in the country’s exports to the energy crisis that hit the country last winter. Because of severe electricity shortages, a number of industrial enterprises stood idle.
“The country’s exports have decreased, mainly, because of decline in production of aluminum, which is the main item of Tajikistan’s exports,” said Zaripov, “Over the report period, Tajikistan has exported $260 million worth of aluminum, which is $16 million fewer than in the same period of last year.”
Besides, export of cotton fiber has also decreased over the same three-month period. In January-March 2007, Tajikistan exported cotton fiber for $20 million.
Imports of goods into the country have amounted to $669.841 million over the report period. The main items of Tajik imports have been wheat and flour. The country has imported $17 million worth of 200,000 tons of wheat and flour in January-March 2008. Over the report period, the country has imported 136 tons of gasoline and other petroleum products for $21 million.
