DUSHANBE, October 17, 211, Asia-Plus  -- Over the first nine months of this year, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to 3.2788 billion U.S. dollars, which was 124.3 percent of the January-September 2010 level or 640.9 million U.S. dollars more, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.

The trade balance was negative and amounted to some 1.4 billion US dollars.

Exports of goods in January-September 2011 amounted to 951.8 million US dollars, which was 17 percent, or 138.6 million U.S. dollars, more than in the same period last year.

Imports of goods into the country over the report period amounted to 2.3269 billion U.S. dollars, which was 27.5 percent, or 502.3 million U.S. dollars, more than in January-September 2010.

In January-September 2010, Tajikistan had trade relations with 98 countries of the world, including 10 CIS nations.

Compared to January-September 2010, Tajikistan’s cotton fiber exports have increased by 42.9 percent, export of mineral commodities has increased 3.4 times and export of precious metals has increased 2.4 times over the report period.