Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - According to the results of the first half of 2021, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan prepared preliminary indicators for the current account of the balance of payments, the press service of the Central Bank reported.

According to preliminary data, the current account deficit of the balance of payments amounted to US$2.9 billion.

At the same time, the negative balance (US$5.7 billion) of the trade balance (goods and services) and primary income was partially offset by the positive balance (US$2.7 billion) of secondary income.

According to the results of the first half of this year, the total export of goods amounted to US$5.9 billion. At the same time, the export of goods (excluding non-monetary gold) compared to the same period of last year increased by 48 percent or US$1.5 billion, amounting to US$4.5 billion. The main share of exported goods was made up of commodity groups “textiles and textile products” - US$1.5 billion (for the first half of last year, US$925 million), “base metals and products from them” - US$761 million (for the first half of last year 461 million dollars), “products of plant origin” – US$495 million (for the first half of last year 537 million dollars), as well as “products of the chemical industry” – US$274 million (for the first half of last year US$240 million).

The export of services was formed at the level of the last year, amounting to US$921 million. At the same time, as a result of the continued restrictive measures associated with the pandemic in the world, exports for the components of "transport services" and "travel" reached US$745 million this year (for the first half of last year – US$765 million).

Compared to the same period of last year, imports of goods increased by 24 percent or US$2.0 billion and amounted to US$10.6 billion. The main share of imported goods was made up of commodity groups "machinery, equipment, mechanisms" - US$3.0 billion (in the first half of last year, US$2.9 billion), "base metals and products from them" - US$1.5 billion (for the first half of last year, US$1.1 billion), "chemical products" - US$1.3 billion (for the first half of last year, US$1.0 billion), as well as "means of land, air and water transport "- US$1.3 billion (for the first half of last year US$969 million).

Compared to the same period of last year, imports of services increased by 6 percent or US$104 million and amounted to US$1.9 billion. The main change in the structure of imported services falls on the “transport services” component, which increased by US$124 million compared to the first half of 2020, while the “travel” component decreased by US$84 million.

The balance of primary income was negative and amounted to US$53 million. At the same time, the restrictive measures associated with the pandemic led to a reduction in the number of short-term employees, while, in terms of expenses, the accrued interest on borrowed loans and income of direct foreign investors formed at the level of the last year.

The surplus in secondary income was US$2.7 billion, an increase of 28 percent or US$604 million over the same period of last year.

The reporting data of the balance of payments, international investment position and external debt for the first half of 2021 will be presented to users in September 2021.