Tajikistan, a landlocked and mountainous country, is connected to regional markets via CAREC Corridors 2, 3b, 5, and 6c, relying heavily on road transport, which carries over 94% of freight. The limited and aging rail network accounts for just 5% of its cargo volume and lacks direct connectivity to PRC or Afghanistan. Harsh terrain and seasonal road closures challenge logistics, but upgrades to key links like Dushanbe–Khujand are improving reliability.
TFI indicators show gradual but uneven improvements. Border-crossing time (TFI1) remained stable around 4.2 hr, while SWOD speed nearly doubled in 2023, indicating better road infrastructure and less delay. However, TFI2 and TFI3 rose, especially inbound costs, pointing to persistent inefficiencies, informal fees, and limited harmonization with neighboring systems. To enhance its role in CAREC corridors, Tajikistan needs to modernize border infrastructure, expand dry port capacity, and institutionalize digital trade systems to reduce costs, improve speed, and attract greater multimodal freight flows.
Stability Reigns
TFI1 data reflects a relatively stable trend in border clearance time. Average clearance time decreased from 4.68 hr in 2021 to 4.10 hr in 2022, before increasing to 4.19 hr in 2023 (+2.2%). Outbound clearance time increased from 3.00 hr to 3.64 hr in 2023 (+21.6%), while inbound clearance improved only a little, falling from 4.67 hr to 4.47 hr (-4.4%). These changes suggest some variability in outbound procedural efficiency, possibly due to shifting inspection requirements, increased traffic volumes, or inconsistent border staffing.
Table 6.8: Trade Facilitation Indicators for Tajikistan (2021–2023)
| Trade Facilitation Indicators | Road Transport | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % change | ||
| TFI1 | Time taken to clear a border-crossing point (hour) | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 2.20% |
| Outbound | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 21.62% | |
| Inbound | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.5 | -4.38% | |
| TFI2 | Cost incurred at border-crossing clearance ($) | 86 | 85 | 94 | 10.65% |
| Outbound | 27 | 23 | 23 | -0.36% | |
| Inbound | 114 | 116 | 130 | 12.18% | |
| TFI3 | Cost incurred to travel a corridor section | 609 | 579 | 643 | 10.99% |
| ($, per 500 km, per 20-ton cargo) | |||||
| SWD | Speed to travel on CAREC Corridors (km/h) | 20.0 | 20.1 | 26.8 | 33.34% |
| SWOD | Speed without Delay (km/h) | 35.8 | 34.6 | 58.2 | 68.13% |
Despite modest fluctuations, the overall time performance indicates room for improvement. Automation of customs documentation and streamlined multi-agency inspections can help reduce time delays, especially for outbound consignments.
TFI2 data shows a gradual rise in border clearance costs. The average cost increased from $86.17 in 2021 to $93.75 in 2023, reflecting a 10.7% growth over the period. While outbound costs remained largely stable (reducing from $27.44 in 2021 to $23.25 in 2023), inbound clearance costs rose significantly from $113.83 to $129.97 (+12.2%).
This increasing inbound cost may be driven by higher administrative fees, evolving inspection procedures, and informal payments. In the absence of harmonized cost structures, such volatility can act as a deterrent for regional trade and undermines trade facilitation efforts.
TFI3 data indicates a rising cost trend for road transport over the three-year period. The cost per 500 km for a 20-ton cargo increased from $608.73 in 2021 to $642.81 in 2023 (+11%). Contributing factors include fuel price inflation, poor road quality, limited competition in freight services, and high vehicle operating costs, reinforcing the need for upgrading road infrastructure and reducing logistics overheads to reduce the cost burden on traders and exporters.
Tajikistan’s transport speed indicators reflect significant progress. SWD improved by 33.3%, from 19.96 km/h in 2021 to 26.75 km/h in 2023. Strikingly, SWOD nearly doubled, increasing from 34.64 km/h in 2022 to 58.24 km/h in 2023 (+68.1%).
This sharp improvement points to better road conditions, traffic management enhancements, and streamlined logistics coordination along CAREC corridors. SWOD progress indicates higher baseline infrastructure quality, while SWD gains suggest a reduction in waiting times and checkpoint delays.