BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 29. Azerbaijan's total food import value grew from January through April 2023, Trend reports.
According to the State Customs Committee, this figure amounted to $703.9 million, up by $44.3 million (6.3 percent) on an annual basis.
In the first four months of this year, Azerbaijan imported 14,260 tons of meat worth $24.9 million, 4,050 tons of milk worth $8.9 million, 6,190 tons of dairy products valued at $34.4 million, 163,830 tons of vegetables and fruits costing $101.38 million, as well as 4,480 tons of tea worth more $23.9 million.
Besides, during the reporting period, Azerbaijan imported more than 468,810 tons of wheat, corn, barley and rice worth over $159.65 million, while the import of vegetable fats and oils amounted to 41,960 tons worth more than $59.2 million.
Meanwhile, the import value of tobacco and its products increased by 85.57 percent up to $33.18 million year-on-year.
From January through April 2023, imports of pharmaceutical industry products grew in quantitative terms by 4.65 percent, or by more than 488.6 tons, up to 10,990 tons compared to the same period in 2022, while in value terms - by 11.31 percent, or $24.17 million, up to $237.9 million.
Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover from January through April 2023 rose by 12.73 percent, or $2 billion year-on-year, increasing from $15.8 billion to $17.8 billion.
According to the State Customs Committee, in the structure of foreign trade turnover, exports accounted for $12.5 billion, which is $761.5 million, or 6.44 percent more year-on-year. The share of exports in foreign trade turnover amounted to 70.37 percent against 74.53 percent a year earlier.
The country's imports, in the reporting period, increased by $1.25 billion, or 31.12 percent, growing from $4 billion to about $5.2 billion. The share of imports in foreign trade turnover was 29.62 percent against 25.47 percent a year earlier.
As a result, during the specified period, the balance of foreign trade turnover, while remaining positive, decreased year-on-year by more than $495.8 million, or 6.37 percent - to $7.2 billion against $7.7 billion from January through April 2022.