DUSHANBE, September 16, 2009, Asia-Plus — In January-August 2009, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to 2.2194 billion U.S. dollars, which was 69.4 percent of the January-August 2008 level or 979.4 million dollars fewer, according to the State Committee for Statistics.
The trade balance was negative and mounted to 1.0189 billion US dollars.
Exports of goods in January-August 2009 amounted to 600.3 million US dollars, which was 42.8 percent, or 449.3 million dollars, fewer than in the same period of 2008.
Imports of goods into the country over the report period have amounted to 1.6191 billion US dollars, which was 24.7 percent or 530.1 million dollars fewer than in January-August 2008.
Compared to July 2009 exports and imports last month increased by 17.9 percent and 5.9 percent respectively.
In January-August 2009, Tajikistan had trade relations with 95 countries of the world, including 11 CIS states. Over the report period the CIS countries accounted for 46.7 percent (1.036 billion dollars) of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover and the far abroad countries accounted for 53.3 percent (1.1834 billion dollars) of the country’s external trade turnover.
Share of primary aluminum and products from it accounted for 44.6 percent of Tajikistan’s exports in January-August 2009. Over the report period, Tajikistan has exported aluminum and products from it for 349.083 million dollars.
Electrical power accounted for 4.9 percent of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover in the report period. In January-August this year, Tajikistan has exported 3.3757 billion kWh of electricity for 48 million U.S. dollars. Over the same eight-month period, Tajikistan has imported 3.3197 billion kWh of electrical power for 61.2 million U.S. dollars.
Over the report period, Tajikistan has imported 168 million cubic meters of natural gas from Uzbekistan for 40.3 million U.S. dollars.
Share of cotton fiber accounted for 8.5 percent of Tajikistan’s exports in January-August 2009. Over the report period, Tajikistan exported 48,600 tons of cotton fiber for 50.9 million U.S. dollars, which is 9,300 tons and 26.8 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 – 40.2 percent; Iran – 25.6 percent; Belarus – 6.6 percent; Uzbekistan – 6.4; Latvia – 5.8 percent; Ukraine – 3.9 percent; Pakistan – 3.6 percent; Turkey – 2.9 percent; Switzerland – 2.2 percent; Bulgaria – 1.2 percent; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 0.6 percent; and Lithuania – 0.4 percent.
Compared to January-August 2008 an average price of one ton of cotton fiber decreased by $296 and amounted to $1,049.
