DUSHANBE, April 23, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Over the first three months of this year, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to some 1.2 billion U.S. dollars, which was 96.3 percent of the January-March 2012 level or 45.6 million U.S. dollars fewer, according the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan. 

The trade balance was negative and amounted to 476.2 million U.S. dollars.

Exports of goods in January-March this year have amounted to more than 361.8 million U.S. dollars, which was 10.3 percent, or 33.7 million U.S. dollars, more than in the same period last year.

Imports of goods into the country over the same three-month period have amounted to more than 838.1 million U.S. dollars, which was 8.6 percent, or some 80 million U.S. dollars, fewer than in January-March last year.

In January-March this year, Tajikistan has had relations with 85 countries of the world, including ten CIS nations.

In January-March 2013, Tajikistan’s major trading partners were: Russia – some 198 million U.S. dollars; Turkey – more than 168 million U.S. dollars; Kazakhstan – some 160 million U.S. dollars; and China – little more than 126 million U.S. dollars, the Agency for Statistics said.