The gap between Tajikistan's exports and imports in 2024 has significantly widened. According to data from Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, the country’s foreign trade turnover over the first eleven months of this year has exceeded US$7.9 billion, which is 17.3% higher than the same period last year.
Over the reporting period, Tajikistan has reportedly exported goods and products worth over US$1.7 billion.
Nearly half of the country's exports in the outgoing year were metals, including 20% precious metals and 27% non-ferrous metals and their products (such as primary aluminum and products made of it). Mineral products, including cement, ores, concentrates and coal, as well as electricity accounted for a significant share (about 29%) of exports, primarily as raw materials. Textiles, including cotton fiber and related products, made up about 15% of exports.
Imports of goods into Tajikistan over the same eleven-month period have amounted to more than US$6.2 billion.
The country’s imports included petroleum products — 12.2%, followed by machinery and equipment — 11.5%, non-precious metals and products of them — 9.3%, and notably, precious metals — around 6%.
Precious metals were imported in May, coinciding with global gold prices reaching nearly US$2,400 per troy ounce. Interestingly, in February, when gold was priced slightly above US$2,000 per ounce, the country exported nearly US$300 million worth of precious metals.
As a result, the trade balance in January-November this year was negative, amounting to more than US$4.5 billion. Imports have exceeded exports 3.6 times, compared to 2.4 times during the same period in 2023.
Over the first eleven months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly had trade relations with 117 countries, including nine CIS nations.
Over the reporting period, the major trading partners of Tajikistan were: Russia (the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Russia in January-November valued at around US$1.8 billion), China (more than US%1.7 billion), and Kazakhstan (nearly US$1.2 billion).
