DUSHANBE, February 16, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- In January 2010, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, amounted to 266.3 million U.S. dollars, which was 84.3 percent of the January 2009 level or 149.5 million U.S. dollars fewer, according to the State Committee for Statistics.

The trade balance was negative and amounted to 69.7 million US dollars.

Exports of goods in January 2010 amounted to 98.3 million US dollars, which was 50.9 percent, or 33.2 million U.S. dollars, more than in January 2009.

Imports of goods into the country over the report period amounted to 168 billion US dollars, which was 33 percent, or 82.7 million dollars, fewer than in January 2009.

Compared to December 2009, exports and imports last month decreased by 11.3 percent and 38.7 percent respectively.

In January 2010, Tajikistan had trade relations with 60 countries of the world, including 10 CIS states.  Over the report period the CIS countries accounted for 40.4 percent (107.5 million dollars) of Tajikistan’s external trade turnover and the far abroad countries accounted for 59.6 percent (158.8 million dollars) of the country’s external trade turnover.