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Foreign trade of Azerbaijan (January-August 2014)

Analysis Materials 14 October 2014 16:37 (UTC +04:00)

The foreign trade turnover with 139 world countries amounted to $20.964 billion in January-August 2014, or 9.19 percent less than in January-August 2013. The volume of exports decreased by 3.78 percent and amounted to $15.35 billion compared to January-August 2013. The volume of import decreased by 21.29 percent and amounted to $5.613 billion. Azerbaijan exported 1,792 goods and imported 5,579 different goods. As of January-August 2014, the nominal index of export exceeded import. This formed the foreign trade surplus to the amount of $9.737 billion.

As in previous periods, oil, gas and oil products were mainly exported from Azerbaijan in January-August 2014.

Main products exported from Azerbaijan

Name of the product

Jan.-Aug. 2014

Compared to Jan.-Aug. 2013, %

cost, thousand dollars

Share in export volume, %

Crude oil

13 129 080,77

85,53

97,82

Oil products

867 160,05

5,65

104,56

Natural gas

225 242,14

1,47

43,05

Fruits and vegetables

147 092,96

0,96

137,19

Oil and butter

142 965,89

0,93

91,37

Spirits and soft drink

21 973,44

0,14

117,26

Aluminum

53 939,80

0,35

98,01

Ferrous metals, tons

27 375,15

0,18

35,60

Raw cotton

9 286,67

0,06

58,01

Chemical products

45 631,10

0,30

112,35

Others

411 489,51

2,67

95,07

Source: Azerbaijani state customs committee

Most of Azerbaijan's exports as of January-August 2014 (85.53 percent) fell to the export of crude oil. The exports of crude oil decreased by 2.18 percent compared to January-August 2013. The export of oil products increased by 4.56 percent during this period. Around 5.65 percent of total exports from the country fell to the oil products in January-August 2014.

Some 18.6 million tons of oil were transported via the Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, 2.8 million tons - the Baku-Supsa pipeline, 678,728 tons - via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline and 634,802 tons were shipped by rail to Baku-Batumi in January-August.

The export of gas from Azerbaijan (data obtained from the control devices) hit 123.5 percent ​​in January-August compared to the eight months of last year. As of January-August, the share of gas in a total export volume amounted to 1.47 percent compared to 2.93 percent in 2013.

According to the gas meters, gas supply for export amounted to 5.5 billion cubic meters in January-August. In August, the export amounted to 617.076 million cubic meters compared to 599.404 million cubic meters in July, the State Customs Committee said.

Around 1.3 billion cubic meters of gas worth $225.24 million were formalized upon the cargo customs declarations in January-August. Around 70.2 million cubic meters of gas worth $9.42 million were formalized in August.

Gas exports reduced by 57 percent in January-August compared to the eight months of last year. Gas exports reduced because Azerbaijani gas supply to Russia was suspended due to the technical work on the gas transportation infrastructure.

Azerbaijan also supplied 1.465 million tons of gas condensate via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline in January-August, including 181,239 tons in July and 173,878 tons in August.

Azerbaijan exported 395 million kilowatt / hours of electricity upon a customs declaration in January-August 2014 compared to 499.52 million kilowatt / hours in the same period of 2013.

The export volume of fruits and vegetables, which is the basis of the agricultural exports of Azerbaijan, has greatly increased. According to the committee, exports of Azerbaijan's agricultural products increased by 37.19 percent in January-August 2014 compared to the same period of last year.

In this period, the highest amount of export fell on Italy. Thus, during this period Azerbaijan exported goods totaling $3.564 billion to Italy which makes up 23.22 percent of a total export volume. Mainly oil and oil products are exported to this country. Indonesia ($1.768 billion) and Germany ($1.221 billion) hold leading positions. Italy has maintained its leading position since 2008 excluding early three months. Turkey took a lead in January and U.S. in February and March 2008.

Turkey ranks first on largest import volume ($799.4 million) in January-August 2014. About 14.24 percent of the Azerbaijani imports fell to it. Russia ranks second - $791.2 million and Great Britain - third ($443.8 million).

Most of Azerbaijan's imports or 29.77 percent in the reporting period fell to the import of machinery, equipment, electrical equipment and spare parts. The machinery and equipment worth $1.671 billion were imported in January-August 2014 or by 5.69 percent less than in January-August 2013.

A lot of vehicles and parts worth $522.41 million (a share in total imports - 9.31 percent) were brought to the country. However, car imports reduced by 47.8 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Euro-4 ecological standard has been used in the country since April 1. This caused the sharp decline in imports in this category. The import of the vehicles not conforming to this standard has been banned in Azerbaijan. The restrictions on the import of the cars that do not meet Euro 4 standard in Azerbaijan is primarily connected with the measures of improving the environmental situation in the country. Moreover, the operations are underway in the country. The introduction of a mechanism of gradual taking old vehicles that do not meet the highest environmental standards out of service is being discussed.

According to the State Customs Committee, the country imported 43,276 cars in January-August compared to 67,226 cars in the same period of 2013.

Around 39,198 cars of the total import volume for the period accounted for the passenger cars and motor cars. There were 60,924 cars in January-August 2013.

Moreover, around 3,575 trucks were imported during the reporting period compared to 5,060 trucks in January-August 2013. The rest cars imported for eight months accounted for other types of vehicles.

Thus, the import of ferrous metals ranks second in terms of an import volume in the country during the period. The share of these products in a total import volume of the country hit 10.85 percent in January-August, while this volume was 609.02 million manat in nominal terms.

The import of butter and meat significantly increased in January-August (by 50.10 percent and 35.07 percent, accordingly compared to January-August 2013) which is related to insufficient domestic production.

Main products imported to Azerbaijan

Name of products

Jan.-Aug. 2014

Compared to Jan.-Aug. 2013, %

cost

(thousand dollars)

Share in import volume, %

Meat

13 286,37

0,24

135,07

Butter

17 381,25

0,31

150,10

Milk

4 347,92

0,08

74,16

Grain

161 180,36

2,87

63,77

Cars, mechanisms, electric goods, equipment

1 671 039,63

29,77

94,31

Vehicles and spare parts

522 412,27

9,31

52,18

Wood and wooden goods

86 213,47

1,54

38,35

Ferrous metals, tons

609 023,61

10,85

72,54

Furniture and its parts

62 360,11

1,11

124,59

Pharmaceutical goods

159 000,58

2,83

95,46

Source: Azerbaijani state customs committee

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the countries outside the EU and CIS did not restore their status as the main trading partners of the country in January-August. These countries formed the foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan only by 44.18 percent or $9.261 billion, while the EU countries - by 46.89 percent ($9.829 billion). Only 8.93 percent or $1.873 billion accounted for the CIS.

In January-August 2014 Azerbaijan's exports to the EU countries amounted to $8.030 billion, or 52.31 percent of a total export volume amid a 6.56 percent growth. Imports from EU ($1.799 billion) dropped by 26.3 percent and amounted to 32.06 percent of a total import volume. As a result, the country had a black ink of trade balance with the EU at the level of $6.230 billion or 63.99 percent of the country's foreign trade surplus.

The exports to the countries outside the EU and CIS dropped by 10.45 percent - to $6.758 billion in January-August or 44.02 percent of a total export volume, while imports - by 15.59 percent to $2.503 billion or 44.60 percent of the total import volume. As a result, Azerbaijan received a $ 4.253 billion trade surplus with these countries.

Exports to the CIS countries for the period totaled $562.925 million (3.67 percent of the total export volume) by decreasing by 35.45 percent and imports - $1.310 billion (23.34 percent) by decreasing by 24.01 percent. As a result, the country had a red ink in trading with them to the amount of $0.747 billion.

During this period, about 5,036 legal and physical entities were involved in foreign trade operations, including 3,247 - legal entities and 1,789 - physical entities.

The share of public sector in exports totaled $14.47 billion, private sector - $749.70 million, the share of physical entities - $124.51 million.

The share of public sector in import operations amounted to $1.37 billion, the private sector - $4.01 billion, physical entities -$224.40 million.

Azerbaijan's trade operations with foreign countries in January-August 2014

Country name

Export, thousand dollars

Compared to January-August 2013, %

Import, thousand dollars

Compared to import in January-August 2013, %

Total

15 351 017.66

96.22

5 613 565.77

78.71

Including

European countries, total

8 030 436.91

106.56

1 799 530.76

73.7

Austria

344 597.45

181.59

58 907.14

92.7

Belgium

559.93

7.68

61 464.27

129.1

Bulgaria

119.98

0.1

58 696.58

463

Great Britain

122 896.45

41.32

443 884.37

53.02

Hungary

71 569.62

1560.11 times

16 799.17

77.23

Germany

1 220 771.79

136.22

422 739.29

87.49

Greece

144 038.24

28.34

36 747.35

12.52 times

Denmark

732.23

294.8

14 027.58

99.49

Ireland

47.81

0.14

8 832.32

98.87

Spain

438 399.32

591.19

32 291.13

97.9

Italy

3 563 955.96

93.95

166 103.53

101.92

Cyprus

0

0

1 524.13

3.73

Latvia

787.62

46.96

6 159.77

101.42

Lithuania

592.7

33.81

26 478.87

191.84

Luxemburg

97.99

83.62

2 109.69

33.16

Malta

35 538.47

1916.55 times

192.06

21.6

Netherlands

15 410.21

349.63

106 877.76

106.85

Poland

12 181.80

249.72

45 581.43

163.03

Portugal

361 307.31

88.47

3 356.18

241.73

Romania

79 300.83

95.01

42 992.76

270.02

Slovakia

31.63

800

12 441.27

69.24

Slovenia

13.15

136.51

6 497.03

76.81

Finland

27.21

358.38

53 061.55

121.14

France

1 063 405.30

131.86

103 897.47

28.25

Croatia

136 005.83

208.08

10 697.83

178.37

Czech Republic

417 793.85

193.55

29 987.53

51.86

Sweden

118.94

255.11

23 383.34

72.71

Estonia

135.3

28.39

3 799.35

60.24

Other countries, total

6 757 655.60

89.55

2 503 660.58

84.41

Albania

0

0

2.39

12.84 times

Australia

210.16

184.77

2 843.59

33.89

Algeria

240

32.58

213.62

18.41 times

Anguilla

0

0

730.52

33.24

Angola

195.54

241.30 times

3.02

34.47

Andorra

0

0

12.81

1.79

Argentina

29.03

48.94

6 586.22

157.01

Aruba

17.54

890.12

0

0

Afghanistan

165 491.55

128.04

0

0

Bahama Islands

25 662.12

0

0.97

0

Bangladesh

0

0

533.57

23.77 times

Barbados

0

0

242.39

12.31 times

Bahrain

21.78

128.13

0

0

Belize

0

0

2 646.19

378.28

Bermuda islands

8.51

53.45

0

0

Bolivia

13.51

0

0

0

Bosnia and Herzegovina

159.55

0

420.42

200.83

Brazil

169.85

100.75

128 454.51

64.87

Brunei Darussalam

1.77

0

0.14

319.61

Virgin Islands (Great Britain)

0

0

662.19

48.63

Vietnam

75 330.11

88.8

2 083.00

76.9

Gabon

19.75

0

0

0

Guinea

0.29

0

0

0

Hong Kong

156.45

7.24

348.38

47.9

Georgia

349 112.12

108.3

70 738.74

75.57

Guam (U.S)

0

0

13.52

0

Jabalia

64 535.72

0

0

0

Dominique

0

0

5.94

62.79

Dominican Republic

0

0

21.19

185.13

Egypt

35 994.64

89.01

1 496.13

56.1

Israel

909 940.79

116.95

6 013.21

63.27

India

685 179.31

92.17

22 597.33

63.84

Indonesia

1 768 402.06

90.69

23 179.85

144.01

Jordan

33.75

100.07

481.54

30.43

Iceland

0

0

326.78

203.22

Iraq

176 808.95

68.61

254.15

127.85

Iran

23 028.97

41.29

105 660.72

72.93

Yemen

174.01

152.88

0

0

Cambodia

3.81

0

98.75

289.46

Cameroon

0

0

15.14

15.43

Cayman Islands

22.66

171.19

0

0

Canada

218 703.78

16303.90 times

25 850.08

251.79

Qatar

265.48

16.62

12.91

3.69

Congo

0.56

0

0

0

Kenya

0

0

100.71

106.07

China

37 455.85

146.8

414 865.37

99.04

Columbia

0.89

62.15

20.78

2.65

Republic of Korea

12.17

0.04

131 537.68

74.05

Costa-Rica

0

0

170.99

116.02

Cuba

0

0

34.63

438.75

Kuwait

19.08

210.13

94.89

0

Curaçao

0

0

13.95

0

Lebanon

19 112.21

1717.18 times

966.06

150.79

Libya

25 760.00

17.99

499.98

110.3

Republic of Mauritius

0

0

0.64

0

Madagascar

0

0

25.17

648.36

Macedonia

2.71

20.68

533.65

16.60 times

Malaysia

8 694.96

192.40 times

11 210.31

40.28

Mexico

9.41

200.51

5 327.71

115.09

Mozambique

0

0

36.65

334.28

Mongolia

82.56

22.63

41.04

0

Montenegro

84.87

740.59

0.37

94.83

Isle of Man

72.05

214.61

0.48

0

Myanmar

0

0

15.49

0

New Zealand

67.67

46.67

14 467.93

181.09

Norway

1 564.70

394.36

20 751.32

134.25

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

3 185.29

60.8

33 801.68

49.27

Oman

6.33

0

61.8

55.76

Pakistan

190.7

674.83

2 073.62

234.34

Panama

1 725.00

0

385.93

5.23

Paraguay

0

0

13.24

0

Palestine

0

0

10.93

0

Peru

0

0

39.85

119.61

Puerto Rico (USA)

0

0

48.69

423.98

Saudi Arabia

24.85

122.96

10 746.31

45.68

San Marino

0

0

74.12

238.04

Saint-Martin

0

0

0.38

0

Serbia

5.15

63.65

2 995.22

73.43

Seychelles

0

0

104.33

3.08

Singapore

553.53

349.85

14 399.02

41.8

Syria

0

0

114.65

83.92

United States of America (USA)

447 540.52

70.35

404 312.30

162.57

Sudan

17.08

326.93

65.58

50.22

Sierra-Leone

7

0

0

0

Tanzania

0.25

0

29.76

0

Taiwan

432 066.65

92.46

7 076.22

44.65

Thailand

562 192.38

42.2

19 333.82

121.58

Trinidad and Tobago

122.7

128.89 times

21.63

21.29 times

Tunisia

255 150.22

550.69

965.79

303.31

Turkey

334 153.65

93.97

799 460.05

81.96

Philippines

0

0

394.23

148.91

Chile

0

0

639.92

57.06

Switzerland

125 778.04

264.78

54 452.78

47.13

Sri-Lanka

0

0

9 689.33

88.58

Uganda

37.12

0

0

0

Uruguay

5

0

3 232.09

539.95

Ecuador

1.68

0

4 456.74

88.46

Ethiopia

0

0

2.08

0

South African Republic

84.73

632.15

1 144.20

17.07

Jamaica

0

0

4 895.09

178.18

Japan

1 130.08

5.03

125 327.22

54.74

Others

765.92

106.43

0

0

CIS countries, total:

562 925.15

64.55

1 310 374.43

75.99

Belarus

9 671.64

133.98

56 572.49

103.62

Kazakhstan

21 836.41

66.3

159 243.29

73.08

Kyrgyzstan

23 241.73

301.34

1 161.37

125.7

Moldova

5.75

3.44

4 003.48

123.36

Uzbekistan

24 366.16

453

16 204.50

461.42

Russia

428 559.37

57.86

791 168.13

77.88

Tajikistan

1 787.48

41.06

187.96

0

Turkmenistan

21 999.77

78.22

3 567.03

11.14

Ukraine

31 456.86

69.08

278 266.19

70.21

source: Azerbaijani state customs committee

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