Dushanbe: The coronavirus pandemic has affected the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. After steady growth, the two-way trade between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan has declined this year.
In 2015-2019, the bilateral trade between the two countries increased more than 30 times: from 12 million U.S. dollars in 2015 to 362 million U.S. dollars in 2019.
Last year, Uzbekistan was fourth among major trading partners of Tajikistan following Russia, Kazakhstan and China, and the authorities of the two countries planned to increase the bilateral trade to 500 million U.S. dollars within the next few years.
Meanwhile, the two-way trade between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan over the first eleven months of this year has valued at little more than 300 million U.S. dollars, which was 7.0 percent fewer than in the same period last year.
This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to Uzbekistan estimated at US$75 million (25 percent) and Tajikistan’s imports from Uzbekistan worth US$225 million (75 percent). Over the reporting period, Tajikistan’s exports to Uzbekistan included primary aluminum, cotton fiber, ores, cement, raw silk, raw leather, fabrics, alcohol drinks, carpets and so forth.
Tajikistan’s imports from Uzbekistan in January-November included natural gas, textile products, mineral fertilizers, shoes, non-ferrous metals, electrical and mechanical equipment, ceramic products, and plastic products. –PNP
