KHUAJND, July 31, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- In January-June 2008, the foreign trade turnover of the Sughd province, including electric energy and natural gas, has amounted to 456.256 US dollars, which is 138 percent of the January-June 2007 level or 125.6557 million dollars more, according to the Sughd agency for statistics. 

The trade balance was negative and amounted to 302.3435 million dollars.   

Exports of goods over the report period have amounted to 76.9563 million dollars, which is 0.8 percent or 644,300 dollars more than in the same period of last year. 

Imports of goods into the province in January-June 2008 have amounted to $379.2998 million, which is 49.2 percent or 125.0114 million dollars more than in January-June 2007.

Over the same six-month period, the Sughd province has had foreign trade relations with 54 countries of the world, including 11 CIS states.  

The CIS states accounted for 65.5 percent ($298.8086 million) of Sughd’s external trade turnover in January-June 2008, and other foreign countries accounted for 34.5 percent ($157.4475 million). 

Over the report period, the far abroad countries have been Sughd’s main export partners, accounting for 53 percent ($40 million) of its exports.

Imports have come mainly from the CIS states, which have accounted for 68 percent ($257.9849 million) of Sughd’s imports in the first half-year of 2008. 

Share of electrical power has accounted for 3.5 percent of the Sughd external trade turnover.  In all, the province has imported 1.0718 billion kWh of electricity for $16.0779 million over the same six-month period.  

Over the report period, the province has imported 58 million cubic meters of natural gas for $8.7104 million.