DUSHANBE, January 20, 2015, Asia-Plus — In 2014, Tajikistan exported only little more than 125,000 tons of primarily aluminum for a total amount of 234 million U.S. dollars, which was 37.2 percent fewer than in 2013, a source at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade told Asia-Plus today.
In 2013, Tajikistan reportedly exported 200,000 tons of primary aluminum for a total amount of 370 million U.S. dollars, which was 25 percent fewer than in 2012.
In 2012, Tajikistan exported 265,000 tons of primary aluminum for a total amount of 536 million U.S. dollars, the source said.
In 2014, major trading partners for Tajik aluminum were Turkey, Russia and China.
The Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) is one of the ten largest aluminum smelters in the world and provides up to 70% of the country’s foreign currency earnings, consuming some 40% of the country’s electrical power. TALCO is wholly owned by the Tajik government. Tajikistan does not mine alumina but imports the raw material through tolling arrangements.
Construction of the Tajik aluminum plant (TadAZ) began in 1972, and the first pouring of aluminum took place on March 31, 1975. On April 3, 2007, TadAZ was officially renamed to TALCO – Tajik Aluminum Company.
