Uzbekistan’s foreign trade surplus surged 140% year-on-year to US$2.79 billion in the first nine months of 2007, a source at the Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade Ministry told Interfax.

The trade turnover grew 27.1% to US$9.605 billion, as exports jumped 41.9% to US$6.199 billion and imports rose 8.13% to US$3.406 billion. Goods and there not raw materials increased to 74.4% of exports from 71.6% a year earlier.

Uzbekistan’s trade surplus grew 46% to US$1.9 billion in 2006, when the trade turnover increased by 12.6% to US$10.7 billion, as exports rose 16.7% to US$6.3 billion and imports went up 7.3% to US$4.4 billion.