DUSHANBE, April 15, 2010, 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 1.155 billion U.S. dollars, which was 145.5 percent of the January-March 2010 level or 361 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 357.1 million US dollars.

Exports of goods in January-March 2011 amounted to 398.9 million US dollars, which was 39.7 percent, or 146.1 million U.S. dollars, more than in the same period last year.

Imports of goods into the country over the report period amounted to 756 million U.S. dollars, which was 39.7 percent, or 214.9 million dollars, more than in January-March 2010.

In January-February 2010, Tajikistan had trade relations with 79 countries of the world, including 10 CIS nations.

Compared to January-March 2010, Tajikistan’s cotton fiber exports has increased 2.7 times and export of non-precious metals has risen 35.3 percent over the report period.

Compared to January-February 2010, fuel and flour imports have risen 21.6 and 4.6 percent respectively and wheat imports have increased 2.6 times over the first three months of this year.