Over the first five months of this year, the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Afghanistan has valued at about 36.3 million U.S. dollars, which is nearly 30 percent more than in the same period last year, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.
Over the reporting period, Tajikistan’s exports to Afghanistan have accounted for 97 percent of a total volume of the bilateral trade between the two countries.
January-May this year, Tajikistan’s exports to Afghanistan have included electricity, cement, agricultural goods and some food products.
Electricity has reportedly accounted for nearly 50 percent of Tajikistan’s exports to Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is the eighth among major partners for Tajikistan’s exports.
The Taliban recaptured Kabul on 15 August 2021 after years of insurgency, and currently controls all of the country.
Following the Taliban's ascension to power, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's model of governance has been widely criticized by the international community, despite the government's repeated calls for international recognition and engagement. No country has yet recognized the new government.
Tajikistan was the only neighboring country to publicly oppose the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August last year, calling the militant group a threat to regional stability.
Meanwhile, Tajikistan external trade turnover over the same five-month period has amounted to more than 2.7 billion U.S. dollars, which is 44 percent more than in the same period last year, according to the Agency for Statistics.
In January-May this year, the trade balance was negative ad amounted to more than 1 billion U.S. dollars.
Over the reporting period, Tajikistan reportedly had trade relations with 99 countries of the world.
In January-May this year, major trading partners of Tajikistan were: Russia – more than 610 million U.S. dollars (a two-way trade turnover); China – 550 million U.S. dollars; Kazakhstan – 545 million U.S. dollars; Uzbekistan – 212 million U.S. dollars; and Turkey – 150 million U.S. dollars.
