DUSHANBE, August 18, 2009, Asia-Plus — In January-July 2009, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to 1.9039 billion U.S. dollars, which was 68.8 percent of the January-July 2008 level or 864.4 million dollars fewer, according to the State Committee for Statistics.
The trade balance was negative and mounted to 907.7 million US dollars.
Exports of goods in January-July 2009 amounted to 498.1 million US dollars, which was 46.8 percent, or 4380 million dollars, fewer than in the same period of 2008.
Imports of goods into the country over the report period have amounted to 1.4058 million US dollars, which was 23.3 percent or 426.4 million dollars fewer than in January-July 2008.
Compared to June 2009 exports and imports last month increased by 31.9 percent and 33.1 percent respectively.
In January-July 2009, Tajikistan had trade relations with 92 countries of the world, including 11 CIS states. Over the report period the CIS countries accounted for 46.4 percent (884.3 million dollars) of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover and the far abroad countries accounted for 53.6 percent (1.0196 million dollars) of the country’s external trade turnover.
Share of primary aluminum and products from it accounted for 40.7 percent of Tajikistan’s exports in January-July 2009. Over the report period, Tajikistan has exported aluminum and products from it for 281.925 million dollars.
Electrical power accounted for 4.8 percent of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover in the report period. In January-July this year, Tajikistan has exported 2.406 billion kWh of electricity for 35.9 million U.S. dollars. Over the same seven-month period, Tajikistan has imported 2.9262 billion kWh of electrical power for 55.3 million U.S. dollars.
Over the report period, Tajikistan has imported 150.3 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan for 36.1 million U.S. dollars.
Share of cotton fiber accounted for 8.5 percent of Tajikistan’s exports in January-July 2009. Over the report period, Tajikistan exported 40,600 tons of cotton fiber for 42.3 million U.S. dollars, which is 15,600 tons and 33.3 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 – 40.7 percent; Iran – 22 percent; Uzbekistan and Belarus – 7.7 percent each; Latvia – 6.9 percent; Pakistan – 3.3 percent; Ukraine – 3.2 percent; Switzerland – 2.7 percent; Turkey – 2.4 percent; Bulgaria – 1.4 percent; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 0.8 percent; Lithuania – 0.5 percent; and Austria – 0.4 percent.
Compared to January-July 2008 an average price of one ton of cotton fiber decreased by $302 and amounted to $1,042.
