Tajikistan Leads CIS with Record-Breaking Industrial Surge

Tajik Minister of Industry and New Technologies, Sherali Kabir has announced that Tajikistan recorded the highest industrial growth rate among the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the first half of 2025.

Kabir made these remarks at a press conference in Dushanbe, The Caspian Post reports per Tajik media.

From January to June 2025, the volume of industrial production in Tajikistan reached 29.6 billion somoni ($3.178 billion), marking a 24 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

This impressive performance places Tajikistan ahead of other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members, including Kyrgyzstan (17.2 per cent), Uzbekistan (6.6 per cent), Kazakhstan (6.5 per cent), and Russia (2.4 per cent).

Key Growth Drivers

Kabir attributed this growth to strong government support, an improved investment climate, the adoption of innovations, and the increased productivity of domestic enterprises.

Sector Breakdown

The leading contributor to industrial output was the mining sector, which accounted for 43.1 per cent of total production. It was followed by:

Electricity production - 17.2 per cent

Light industry - 16.2 per cent

Mechanical engineering - 8.5 per cent

Construction materials - 6.1 per cent

Food industry - 5.8 per cent

These six sectors collectively generated over 96 per cent of the country's industrial output.

Other sectors accounted for smaller shares, including:

Paper production - 1 per cent

Cotton processing - 0.7 per cent

Salt extraction - 0.9 per cent

Oil and gas - 0.3 per cent

Coal industry - 0.4 per cent

Miscellaneous services - 0.4 per cent

Fastest-Growing Industries

Several industries reported particularly high growth rates:

Packaging materials - up 172 per cent

Pharmaceuticals - up 161.7 per cent

Electrical equipment - up 136.3 per cent

Rubber, metal products - up 129.7 per cent

Plastic products - up 122.6 per cent

Paper and cardboard - up 118.3 per cent

Leather goods - up 111.2 per cent

Garment production - up 110.8 per cent

Foreign Trade Performance

In terms of foreign trade, total turnover in the first half of the year reached $4.73 billion, with exports accounting for $955.3 million and imports totaling $3.78 billion - meaning imports exceeded exports by nearly fourfold.

As of early July 2025, Tajikistan had 2,411 active industrial enterprises operating across the country.