The shift represents a significant change from 2025, when Kazakhstan held third place with trade turnover exceeding $1.19 billion, while trade with Switzerland totaled about $386.5 million, nearly half the 2024 level.

In the first five months of 2026, Kazakhstan fell to fourth place with around $649 million in bilateral trade, while Switzerland moved up to third.

Switzerland also became the leading destination for Tajik exports, accounting for 36.3% of the country’s total exports, or $508.2 million. China ranked second with a 25.7% share, followed by Turkey at 7.6%.

China and Russia remain Tajikistan’s two largest trading partners overall. Trade with China reached nearly $1.44 billion during the reporting period, up 50% year-on-year, while trade with Russia rose 23.1% to $1.11 billion.

In imports, China accounted for 24.7% of total inbound trade, followed by Russia at 24%, Kazakhstan at 13.8%, and Switzerland at 11.6%.

Tajikistan’s total foreign trade turnover for January-May 2026 exceeded $5.7 billion, up 48.5% from the same period a year earlier. Imports accounted for nearly $4.37 billion, while exports totaled about $1.4 billion.

The country’s main exports included mineral products, base metals and metal goods, textiles, and agricultural products. Imports were dominated by mineral products, machinery and equipment, metals, food products, and chemicals.

The sharp increase in trade with Switzerland likely reflects the role of precious metals and other commodity-linked transactions in Tajikistan’s trade structure.