Tajikistan exported goods worth $997 million in the first 6 months of 2024, which is $319 million, or 47% more than in the same period of 2023. This was stated at a press conference by the head of the Tajikistan Export Agency Bahriddin Sirojiddinzoda, Asiaplus.tj reports.
According to statistics, in the first half of the year, Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $4.41 billion, which is $990 million (29%) more than in the same period last year.
The volume of industrial exports for this period amounted to $969 million - $314 million (48.1%) more than in the first 6 months of 2023. In the first half of this year, 77.2 thousand tons of agricultural products worth $28 million were sold abroad, which is $4.7 million, or 19.4% more than in the first half of last year.
The top five exported goods of Tajikistan were:
- precious and semi-precious stones, sold for $298.5 million (up $0.6 million from the same period last year);
- cotton fiber, exported for $95.6 million (up $75 million from the same period last year);
- primary aluminum – for $90.4 million (up $64.6 million from the same period last year);
- antimony – for $88.3 million (up $55.1 million from the same period last year);
- refined copper – for $19.9 million (data for the first 6 months of last year is not available).
The five countries to which Tajikistan exported the most goods and products were:
- Switzerland – $298.5 million;
- China – $186.8 million;
- Kazakhstan – $118.7 million;
- Turkey – $111.1 million;
- Uzbekistan – $80.4 million.
According to the Export Agency, 1995 tons of agricultural products were exported from Tajikistan to Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus in the first 6 months of this year, including 1446 tons of onions, 275 tons of plums, 40 tons of beets, 18.5 tons of peaches and 17.5 tons of bell peppers.
Exports to Afghanistan will continue
According to Bahriddin Sirojiddinzoda, the issue of creating an export zone between Tajikistan and Afghanistan in the area of the Nizhny Pyanj border crossing is currently being discussed, which will help improve trade relations between the two countries. This has nothing to do with official relations, "exports must continue," the head of the Tajik agency noted.
"Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also do not have official relations with Afghanistan, but they have established trade relations and even opened a trading house there. This region allows us to export our products to Afghanistan and through it to Pakistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan have taken on the responsibility of ensuring export security," said Sirojiddinzoda.
According to the agency, the main export products from Tajikistan to Afghanistan are fruits and stone fruits, including pistachios, nuts, peppers, as well as seeds for planting, chicken eggs and coal.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 5, 2024