Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4
By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:
Increase in excise duties on import of oil products, alcohol and tobacco products will not affect the value of the consumer basket in Azerbaijan, the deputy of Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan, a member of the parliamentary committee on economic policy, Rufat Guliyev told Trend Feb.3.
"Such actions of the government are a normal phenomenon," he said. "This list of products doesn't include any product that affects the minimum consumption basket in the country."
The new excise rates will come into force as of March 1, 2015.
Guliyev said that prices for imported products (taking into account the new excise rates) will not change except for tobacco and alcohol.
"One of the key moments is the fact that the cost of excise duties will now be calculated in AZN," he said. "In terms of the parity it will lead to the fact that AZN will become even more stable. It is possible that the decision pursued namely this aim. That is, if earlier importers of these goods in Azerbaijan implemented calculations in dollars during the payment of the excise tax, now they will pay in AZN. This is a normal phenomenon and it does not affect inflation or the essential commodities in any way."
On Feb.2, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers approved the new rates of excise duties on alcoholic beverages, tobacco and oil products imported into the country.
According to the decision, the excise rate on malt beer imported to Azerbaijan will be one AZN per liter (previously - $1); wines from fresh grapes, including fortified wines; grape must - two AZN per liter (previously - $2.5); sparkling wines - 2.5 AZN per liter; whiskey, vodka, liqueur, rum and other beverages - six AZN per liter (previously - $6).
The excise rate on imported cigarettes, cigarillos will be four AZN per 1,000 pieces; cigars - 10 AZN per 1,000 pieces (previously - $1.8 per 1,000 pieces).
Under the decision, the excise tax on the aviation fuel imported to the country will be 1 AZN per one metric ton (earlier $1); motor gasoline, (except aviation fuel) with a lead content of no more than 0.013 g/l and an octane rating of up to 95 - 200 AZN per metric ton (previously $250); motor gasoline (except aviation fuel) with a lead content of no more than 0.013 g/l and octane rating of 98 and more - 120 AZN per metric ton (earlier $250); middle distillates for specific refining processes - 80 AZN per metric ton (earlier $100).
Moreover, under the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the excise rate on the aviation fuel will be 1 AZN per one metric ton; special gasoline types, white spirit - 1 AZN per one metric ton (earlier $1); natural gas - 1 AZN per one metric ton; lubricants - 1 AZN per one metric ton (earlier $1); petroleum jelly - 10 AZN per one metric ton (earlier $10); gasoil - 80 AZN per one metric ton (earlier $100); petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen and other products from refining of oil and petroleum products, as well as those produced from bituminous minerals - 24 AZN per one metric ton (earlier $30); liquid fuel - 1 AZN per one metric ton, other petroleum products - 50 AZN per one metric ton.
Edited by CN
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