BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 28
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
The deficit of the balance of payments of Uzbekistan in the 1Q2021 amounted to $2.5 billion, which is about $500 million less than at the end of 2020, Trend reports referring to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU).
At the same time, the negative balance ($3.7 billion) of the trade balance (goods and services) and primary income was partially offset by the positive balance ($1.2 billion) of secondary income.
The CBU noted that at the moment the CBU provides preliminary data.
It is reported that exports of goods (excluding non-monetary gold) increased by 23 percent compared to the same period last year, amounting to $1.9 billion. The main share of exported goods was made up of and textile products - $720 million, base metals and products from them - $326 million, products of plant origin - $182 million, as well as products of the chemical industry - $132 million.
Exports of services were down 33 percent year-on-year to $407 million. However, as a result of the restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel component saw a 69 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
Compared to the same period last year, imports of goods increased by 14 percent and amounted to $5.2 billion. The main share of imported goods was made up of commodity groups machinery, equipment, mechanisms - $1.4 billion, base metals and products from them - $716 million, chemical products - $615 million, as well as means of land, air and water transport - $518 million.
Compared to the same period last year, imports of services decreased by 13 percent and amounted to $923 million. At the same time, the main change in the structure of imported services falls on the travel component, which decreased by 53 percent compared to the same period last year.
The balance of primary income was formed negative and amounted to $305 million. At the same time, as a result of restrictive measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the income of short-term workers decreased. Also, there was an increase in expenses due to accrued interest on borrowed loans and income of direct foreign investors.
It is reported that the surplus of secondary income amounted to $1.2 billion, increasing by 20 percent over the same period last year.
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