Uzbekistan sees cut in foreign trade surplus
By Aynur Jafarova
The Uzbek State Statistics Committee reported that Uzbekistan's foreign trade surplus decreased by half and amounted to $ 2.231 billion in 2012. The figure was $ 4.517 billion in 2011.
According to the committee's report, a positive surplus of Uzbekistan's trade with the Commonwealth of Independent States' countries reached $ 3.073 billion compared to $ 2.33 billion a year earlier, a negative balance of $ 842.1 million was recorded with countries of the far abroad against a surplus of $ 2.187 billion in 2011.
During the reported period, Uzbekistan's foreign trade increased by 0.9 percent and reached $ 26.287 billion. Its exports amounted to $ 14.259 billion, while the volume of imports stood at $ 12.028 billion.
The volume of foreign trade with the CIS countries in 2012 amounted to $ 12.402 billion showing a growth at 12.4 percent, with countries of the far abroad - $ 13.884 billion showing decrease at 7.6 percent.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan increased exports to the CIS countries by 15.1 percent up to $ 7.738 billion, and reduced exports to non-CIS countries by 21.4 percent to $ 6.521 billion. Imports from the CIS countries increased by eight percent and reached $ 4.665 billion, imports from non-CIS countries increased by 9.6 percent - up to $ 7.363 billion.
The main trade partners of Uzbekistan in 2012 were Russia (29 percent), China (12.3 percent), Kazakhstan (10.2 percent) and South Korea (8.8 percent).
According to the committee, Uzbekistan has increased the export of energy supplies and oil products for 81 percent in 2012, which is more the 2011 figure by 1.8 times.
The share of energy supplies and oil products in export amounted to 35.3 percent compared to 19.8 percent a year earlier.
Foreign capital investment in 2012 decreased to 21.7 percent compared to 25.1 percent in 2011.