DUSHANBE, February 15, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Total bilateral trade between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan through 2011 is down 8.6 percent in comparison to 2010, Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development reports.

Last year. Russia’s share in a total trade turnover of Tajikistan fell 5 percent – from 23 to 18 percent.

Meanwhile, Russia’s exports to Tajikistan increased by 7 percent last year.  In 2011, Russia’s exports to Tajikistan included mineral products (more than 40 percent), food products and farm produce (17 percent), and lumber (16 percent).

Decrease in bilateral trade between Russia and Tajikistan reportedly resulted from considerable decrease in Russia’s imports from Tajikistan.  Compared to 2010, Russia’s imports from Tajikistan last year fell 58 percent.   Textile goods and food products accounted for more than 90 percent of Russia’s imports from Tajikistan.

Russian media sources report that Tajikistan’s rich harvests of cotton, fruits and vegetable proved to be unclaimed in Russia last year for undisclosed reasons and were sold to consumers in Turkey and China.