Although Tajikistan has reduced the purchase of goods and products to meet domestic needs abroad, imports still significantly prevail over exports that leads to a shortage of foreign exchange.
In January-October this year, imports of goods into Tajikistan have amounted to more than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, which was 6.3 percent or 75 million U.S. dollars fewer than the same period last year.
Meanwhile, exports of goods over the reporting period have reportedly amounted to little more than 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, which is nearly 30.4 percent or 475 million U.S. dollars more than in the same period last year.
Over the same-ten month period, the foreign currency has been used mostly for purchase of petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, coal, ores and concentrates — 457.4 million U.S. dollars, which is some 20 percent of the overall volume of imports over the reporting period.
The main items of Tajikistan’s imports also include:
– Products of chemical industry (mineral fertilizers, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and so forth) – 269 million U.S. dollars;
– Herbal products (fruits, vegetables, melons, teas, coffee, rice, wheat and so forth) – 267 million U.S. dollars;
– Non-precious metals and products from them (pipes, wires, nails, knives and other metal products) – 279 million U.S. dollars;
– Machinery and equipment (generators, turbines, transformers, home appliances) – 260 million U.S. dollars;
– Food products (meant products, sugar, confectionery, bakery products, soft and alcohol drinks) – 236 million U.S. dollars;
– Transport means, including locomotives, train cars, tractors, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as spare parts for them – 184 million U.S. dollars.
Over the reporting period, the abovementioned goods and products have accounted for more than 77 percent of the country’s imports.
In January-October, major trading partners of Tajikistan’s imports were Russia – 30.6 percent of the overall volume of Tajikistan’s imports, Kazakhstan – 23.6 percent, and China – 14.8 percent.
In January-October, Tajikistan reportedly had trade relations with 110 countries of the world, including ten CIS nations.
