DUSHANBE, June 14, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Grain and wheat flour remain the main imported products in Tajikistan.

Over the first quarter of this year, 144,800 tons of grain and 54,400 tons of wheat flour have been imported into Tajikistan, 25 percent less grain and 59.5 percent less wheat flour in comparison to the same period of last year.

The monthly report for June 2013, Monitoring & Early Warning in Tajikistan , says that as of May 31, 2013, the average price for a 50-kilogram sack of locally produced first grade wheat flour in Dushanbe was 145.95 somoni (equivalent to 30.70 USD).  In May, the average price for a 50-kilogram sack of wheat flour produced in Kazakhstan was 149.00 somoni (equivalent to 31.40 USD), 1.80 somoni less compared to prices at the beginning of April.  The price of first grade wheat flour from Kazakhstan was 148.70 somoni.

Compared to last year prices, there was an increase by 38% for wheat flour produced locally, and 36% for wheat flour imported from Kazakhstan, the report said.

Meanwhile, from January to May 2013, the average price of imported oil products reportedly dropped by 6.7 percent in comparison with the same period of last year and was 1,099 USD per ton.

According to the report, 110,500 tons of fuels of all types have been imported into the country over the first five months of this year, 18.2 percent less than in the same period last year.  A total of 37,600 tons of diesel fuel at a price of 1,035 USD per ton, and 37,000 tons of gasoline at 1,000 USD per ton have been imported into Tajikistan over the report period.

In May, gasoline prices decreased in Dushanbe, Khujand and Qurghon Teppa, and the diesel fuel prices remained unchanged.  An expected reduction of Russian export tariffs has not yet occurred, the report says.