Trade between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has surged dramatically in 2025, increasing more than fifteenfold compared to the same period last year, according to the Customs Service of Tajikistan, as reported by Asia-Plus. From January to May, total bilateral trade reached $6.35 million, up from just $405,100 during the same period in 2024.
Tajik exports to Kyrgyzstan amounted to $1.59 million, while imports from Kyrgyzstan totaled $4.76 million. Analysts attribute the sharp rise to improving political relations and the state visit of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to Dushanbe on July 8-9, at the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.
Bilateral trade has experienced fluctuations over the past decade. Peak volumes were recorded in 2018-2019, when annual trade neared $60 million, with more than $48 million in Kyrgyz exports to Tajikistan and over $14 million in Tajik exports. Since 2020, however, trade had been in decline, dropping to $26.2 million in 2021, $15 million in 2022, and just $11.4 million in 2023. Figures for 2024 remained low at approximately $11.6 million.
The strong recovery in 2025 is largely credited to progress on border delimitation, the opening of two new border checkpoints, and renewed political dialogue. Experts also cite a series of new intergovernmental agreements as contributing factors.
On June 30, during the visit of Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin to Cholpon-Ata, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expand trade and economic cooperation. A new target has been set: increasing annual trade to $500 million.
Since the beginning of the year, the two countries have signed 15 agreements, including border-related protocols and measures to strengthen both political and humanitarian ties.
