Tajikistan’s foreign trade turnover in January–September 2026 reached $10.65 billion, up 35.6%, or nearly $2.8 billion, compared with the same period last year, according to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan.
Despite the growth in foreign trade, its balance remains negative. Over the nine months, the deficit reached $6.31 billion. By comparison, for the same period in 2025 it stood at around $4.19 billion.
Exports of Tajik goods rose by 18.4%, or $337.1 million, reaching $2.17 billion.
Imports grew considerably faster — by 40.8%, or $2.46 billion, reaching $8.48 billion.
The volume of goods imported into the country thus exceeded exports by nearly 3.9 times.
In January–September, Tajikistan maintained trade relations with 129 countries, including 10 CIS states and 119 non-CIS countries.
CIS countries accounted for $4.12 billion, or 38.7% of total trade turnover. Trade with them increased by 20.9% compared with the same period last year.
Trade turnover with non-CIS countries reached $6.53 billion, up 46.8%. They accounted for 61.3% of the republic’s total foreign trade.
What did Tajikistan export?
Export growth was driven primarily by mineral products. Shipments rose by 43.8%, or $250.4 million, reaching $821.5 million.
Exports of precious and semi-precious stones and metals also increased — by $188.6 million.
Shipments of textile materials and goods rose by 30.4%, or $45.6 million. Exports of cotton fiber grew by 28.8%, reaching $107.6 million.
Exports of chemical industry products also increased — by 47.1%; machinery and equipment — by nearly 3.9 times; and vehicles — by 2.9 times.
At the same time, exports of base metals and articles thereof fell by 28.7%, or $191.1 million.
Shipments of prepared foodstuffs decreased by 24.4%, and products of animal origin — by 51.7%.
In the export structure, the largest shares were held by mineral products — 37.9%, base metals and articles thereof — 21.8%, and textile materials and goods — 9%.
What was imported the most?
The main growth in imports came from vehicles, machinery and equipment, as well as metals and articles thereof.
Purchases of vehicles grew by nearly 1.8 times, or $634.1 million. Imports of machinery and equipment rose by 45.6%, or $409.9 million, to $1.31 billion.
Imports of base metals and articles thereof grew by 51.4%, or $343.8 million, exceeding $1 billion.
Imports of mineral products increased by 18%, reaching $1.21 billion.
In addition, purchases of products of plant origin rose by 30.7%, prepared foodstuffs — by 13.6%, and chemical products — by 11.8%.
Over the nine months, Tajikistan imported 916.4 thousand tons of petroleum products worth $858.4 million. In value terms, their imports increased by 24.2% compared with January–September of last year.
Wheat imports amounted to more than 1 million tons worth $266.7 million, up 23.5% in value terms.
Main trading partners
China remains Tajikistan’s largest trading partner. In January–September, trade turnover between the two countries reached $3.04 billion, up 53.1% compared with the same period last year.
Tajikistan’s exports to China amounted to $662.6 million, while imports of Chinese goods totaled $2.38 billion.
Russia ranks second with a trade turnover of $1.89 billion, up 12.4% year on year. Exports of Tajik goods accounted for $118.1 million, and imports from Russia — $1.77 billion.
Kazakhstan follows with $1.13 billion, Uzbekistan with $607.3 million, and Iran with $418.1 million.
The main buyers of Tajik goods were China, which accounted for 30.5% of exports, Switzerland — 23.5%, Uzbekistan — 9.2%, Turkey — 7%, Russia — 5.4%, the Netherlands — 5%, and Belgium — 4.3%.
The main suppliers of imported goods were China — 28%, Russia — 20.9%, Kazakhstan — 12.5%, Switzerland — 6%, the United States — 5.1%, and Uzbekistan — 4.8%.
Tajikistan maintained a positive trade balance, in particular, with the Netherlands ($88 million), Belgium ($85.1 million), Afghanistan ($64.3 million), and Turkey ($3.5 million).
Overall, Tajikistan’s foreign trade continues to grow; however, dependence on imports remains high: for every dollar’s worth of goods exported, around $3.9 worth is imported.