Bishkek, Nov. 15, 2018. /Kabar/. The foreign trade turnover of Kyrgyzstan in January-September 2018 amounted to $ 4.8 billion and increased by 7.3% compared to the same period in 2017, head of the Trade Statistics Department of the National Statistical Committee Venera Mambetalieva told at a press conference.
She noted that at the same time, exports decreased by 3.1%, while import revenues, by contrast, increased by 11.2%.
Mambetalieva said that the largest volume of exports was sent to the UK and amounted to $ 386.7 million, which is 32.8%.
“Gold is exported to the UK. From this year onwards, Kumtor gold is being sent there. Earlier, gold was exported to Switzerland. Russia is in second place - $ 230 million, reaching 19.5%, exports to Kazakhstan amounted to $ 187.7 million (15.9%), Uzbekistan - $ 122.6 million (10.4%), Turkey - $ 53.1 million (4.5%), China - $ 45.1 million (3.8%), Tajikistan - $ 38.7 million (3.3%),” she said.
The decline in exports in January-September 2018, as compared with January-September 2017, was due to a decrease in gold supplies by 17%, whose share in the total volume of exports decreased from 37.9 to 32.5%. The supply of ores and concentrates of precious metals also decreased by 14.9%, milk and dairy products - by 27.9%, spare parts and accessories for machines and tractors - by 23%, electricity - by 21.8%.
Mambetalieva noted that China is in the first place in terms of imports - $ 1 billion 477 million 4 thousand, the share in the total volume is 40.6%. At the second place is Russia, imports amount to $ 878.9 million (24.2%), followed by Kazakhstan - $ 352.1 million (9.7%), Turkey - $ 223.7 million (6.2%), Uzbekistan - $ 135.9 million (3.7%).
The increase in the volume of import revenues in January-September 2018, as compared with January-September 2017, was ensured by an increase in the import of clothing, fruits and nuts, leather goods, ferrous metal, footwear, equipment and mechanical devices, as well as ground transportation vehicles.