DUSHANBE, July 16, 2010, Asia-Plus -- Over the first six months of this year, the external trade turnover of Tajikistan, including electrical power and natural gas, has amounted to 2.214.5 billion U.S. dollars, which was 131 percent of the January-June 2010 level or 523.9 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 841.7 million US dollars.

Exports of goods in January-June 2011 amounted to 686.4 million US dollars, which was 39.7 percent, or 129.4 million U.S. dollars, more than in the same period last year.

Imports of goods into the country over the report period amounted to 1.5281 billion U.S. dollars, which was 34.8 percent, or 394.5 million dollars, more than in January-June 2010.

In January-February 2010, Tajikistan had trade relations with 91 countries of the world, including 10 CIS nations.

Compared to January-June 2010, Tajikistan’s cotton fiber exports have increased by 75.6 percent, export of mineral commodities has increased 3.4 times and export of precious metals has increased twice over the report period.