Tajikistan: Trade Profile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Tajikistan has a relatively open economy and low tariffs: the total value of foreign trade equals 72% of GDP, and the average applied rate is 5.9% (World Bank - latest available data). Tajikistan has taken steps to improve its global and regional integration through accession to the WTO in 2013, and participation in a free-trade agreement with the CIS. Historically, Tajik exports are mainly made of aluminum, agricultural products, and light industry. Low product diversification and dependence on natural resources make the country's economy particularly sensitive to volatile commodity prices. In 2022, exports were made up mostly of ores, slag and ash (31.4%), natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad (30.8%), cotton (10.7%), aluminum and articles thereof (7.4%), mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (5%). On the other hand, imports were led by mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (19.1%), vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof (7.9%), nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof (7.7%), cereals (7.1%), iron and steel (6.5%), electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television (4.2% - data ITC).

In 2022, the main suppliers were the Russian Federation (30.6%), Kazakhstan (18.5%), China (16.2%), Uzbekistan (7.6%), Türkiye (3.3%), and the United States (2.9%); whereas exports were mostly directed towards Switzerland (24.7%), Kazakhstan (20.8%), China (15.8%), Türkiye (7.7%), Uzbekistan (7.7%), Iran, Islamic Republic of (4.9%), and Afghanistan (4.5% - data ITC). The government of Tajikistan has implemented a number of measures to promote exports, including the establishment of export promotion agencies and the provision of various incentives for exporters. These incentives include tax breaks, subsidies, and financial assistance. At the same time, the government has also taken measures to protect domestic industries, such as imposing tariffs and quotas on certain imported goods.

Tajikistan has a structurally negative trade balance. Data from WTO show that, in 2022, exports of goods totaled USD 2.1 billion (stable on the year), vis-à-vis USD 5.1 billion in imports (marking an increase of 22.7% compared to one year earlier). Tajikistan is also a net importer of services: in 2022, it imported USD 685 million of services against USD 137 million in exports. According to Tajikistan's statistical agency, the export of precious and semi-precious metals and stones in 2023 totaled over USD 1.1 billion, marking a 2.2-fold increase compared to 2022. This product category accounted for 46.6% of the country's total export volume last year.

Foreign Trade Indicators	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Imports of Goods (million USD)	3,349	3,151	4,210	5,167	5,748
Exports of Goods (million USD)	1,174	1,407	2,150	2,142	1,718
Imports of Services (million USD)	488	410	532	685	712
Exports of Services (million USD)	242	139	147	137	328
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change)	6	-0	20	4	n/a
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change)	22	22	55	-24	n/a
Trade Balance (million USD)	-1,920	-1,445	-1,712	-2,960	-3,322
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP)	56	56	72	65	n/a
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	41	38	48	49	n/a
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	15	17	24	16	n/a

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.

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Main Services

0.1 bn USD of services exported in 2022
TransportTransport	72.86%
TravelTravel	13.16%
Manufacturing services on physical...Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others	4.80%
Telecommunications, computer, and...Telecommunications, computer, and information services	2.81%
Government goods and services n.i.e.Government goods and services n.i.e.	2.73%
Other business servicesOther business services	1.96%
Financial servicesFinancial services	1.44%
Insurance and pension servicesInsurance and pension services	0.23%
Personal, cultural, and recreational...Personal, cultural, and recreational services	0.02%

0.7 bn USD of services imported in 2022
TransportTransport	83.86%
ConstructionConstruction	8.12%
Financial servicesFinancial services	2.04%
Other business servicesOther business services	1.51%
Telecommunications, computer, and...Telecommunications, computer, and information services	1.49%
TravelTravel	1.26%
Government goods and services n.i.e.Government goods and services n.i.e.	1.00%
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.	0.41%
Manufacturing services on physical...Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others	0.17%
Insurance and pension servicesInsurance and pension services	0.14%
Charges for the use of intellectual...Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e.	n/a%
Personal, cultural, and recreational...Personal, cultural, and recreational services	n/a%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

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