Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover last year amounted to $ 5.137 billion, or 15.1 per cent ($ 674 million) more than in 2011, Asia-Plus information agency said today.
According to the Statistics Agency under the Tajik President, the trade balance was negative and amounted to about $ 2.418 billion.
During this period, Tajikistan had foreign trade relations with 102 world countries, in particular with 10 CIS countries and 92 foreign countries.
The export volume of goods last year amounted to more than $ 1.3 billion, or 8.1 per cent more than in 2011. The goods were imported to the country to the amount of over $ 3.7 billion, or 17.8 per cent more than the year before.
The export of finished food products decreased by 52 per cent, machinery and equipment - by 42.6 per cent, non-precious metals and their items - by 18.9 per cent, vegetable products - by 8.2 per cent in 2012 compared to 2011.
However, the export of vehicles and mineral products increased twofold, precious metals - by 58 per cent, textiles - by 11.6 per cent.
The import of vehicles increased by 2.3 times, vegetable products - by 35.8 per cent, finished food products - by 10 per cent in 2012.
Meanwhile, natural gas imports in 2012 decreased by 20.1 per cent at a cost and by 26.5 per cent at a volume. Last year, Tajikistan imported 132.4 million cubic meters of natural gas worth $ 38.6 million.
Russia is Tajikistan's major trading partner in 2012. The volume of trade turnover amounted to more than $ 1 billion, followed by Kazakhstan ($ 799 million), China ($ 669 million), Turkey ($ 600 million), Afghanistan ($ 232 million), Iran ( $ 217 million).