In January-April, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover amounted to $19.57 billion. Compared to the same period last year, it increased by 13.4%, the Statistics Agency reports.
During the reporting period, the republic’s exports amounted to $7.66 billion, having increased by 6.2% compared to last year. Imports showed a more significant increase - by 18.6%, to $11.91 billion. The negative foreign trade balance reached $4.25 billion.
In April, Uzbekistan reduced the export of gold to $650 million. Over the past four months, gold exports brought the country $3.06 billion.
China remains the first trading partner for Uzbekistan with $3.3 billion (almost 17% of total trade), of which Chinese imports accounted for $2.72 billion. Russia retains its position as the main export market for Uzbek goods ($585.4 million) and second in terms of imports ($2.15 billion).
Export
Excluding gold, the largest share in Uzbekistan's merchandise exports fell on manufactured goods - $1.3 billion. Compared to last year, their supplies fell by 13.6%.
Revenue from the export of textiles and fabrics decreased by almost 17% and amounted to $680 million. The export of non-ferrous metals decreased even more - by 21%, to $418.7 million. At the same time, supplies of iron and steel doubled and reached $71.9 million.
Food exports grew by 20% to $473.4 million. Most of it was fruits and vegetables ($268 million, +13%) and grains ($167.8 million, +48%).
The third place was taken by engineering products with $376.6 million (+74%). The export of cars ($120 million) grew by 44%, and electrical equipment ($75.4 million) - by 53%. Deliveries of communication and sound recording devices grew by 7.7 times to $50 million.
Next are consumer goods with $372 million (+22.8%). Deliveries of ready-made clothing increased by a quarter to $314.3 million, shoes - to $13.1 million.
Following with a slight lag is chemical products - $370 million (+ 2.1%). Revenues from inorganics rose by a third to $156.5 million, but shipments of plastics fell by about 30% ($71.9 million) and fertilizers by 27.5% ($77.4 million).
Commodity exports remain relatively low. Thus, the proceeds from the supply of gas ($117.9 million) and raw materials for fertilizers ($9.2 million) sank by more than half. At the same time, exports of oil and oil products grew by 89% to $64.4 million.
Import
In the structure of imports of goods, as before, engineering products are in the lead with $4.73 billion (+33.3%). Thus, Uzbekistan spent 41% more on car imports than last year - $408 million. Another $527.9 million was spent on car parts (+15%). Aircraft purchases also more than tripled to almost $788 million.
The second place is taken by manufactured goods - $1.82 billion. Iron and steel supplies reached the last year's level ($764.5 million), in parallel, imports of rubber products increased by 42%. In third place are chemical products with $1.58 billion. At the same time, supplies of medical and pharmaceutical products decreased slightly ($523.9 million).
Food supplies increased by 6.7% and amounted to $1.18 billion. Of these, $442 million (+19.3%) was spent on cereals, $188 million (+42%) on sugar and confectionery, and $124.3 million on vegetables and fruits.
