The foreign trade turnover with 150 world countries amounted to $31.02 billion in 2014, or 10.58 percent less than in 2013. The volume of exports decreased by 8.95 percent and amounted to $21.8 billion compared to 2013. The volume of import decreased by 14.22 percent and amounted to $9.2 billion.
The 15 percent decline in imports has been recently connected with the increased self-sufficiency level of the country for the first time. This had a positive impact on the foreign trade balance.
Azerbaijan exported 2,151 goods and imported 6,146 different goods. As of 2014, the nominal index of export exceeded import. This formed the foreign trade surplus to the amount of $12.6 billion.
The country's foreign trade surplus amounted to $12.26 billion in 2013.
As in previous periods, oil, gas and oil products were mainly exported from Azerbaijan in December 2014.
Main products exported from Azerbaijan
Name of the product |
2014 |
Compared to 2013, % |
|
cost, thousand dollars |
Share in export volume, % |
||
Crude oil |
18 404 936,62 |
84,32 |
90,92 |
Oil products |
1 365 020,84 |
6,25 |
112,95 |
Natural gas |
304 684,00 |
1,4 |
43,4 |
Fruits and vegetables |
291 084,52 |
1,33 |
116,08 |
Oil and butter |
190 334,67 |
0,87 |
83,52 |
Spirits and soft drink |
31 875,40 |
0,15 |
103,02 |
Aluminum |
86 780,62 |
0,4 |
104,79 |
Ferrous metals, tons |
43 921,11 |
0,2 |
45,58 |
Raw cotton |
13 964,23 |
0,06 |
57,08 |
Chemical products |
76 118,95 |
0,35 |
133,15 |
Others |
610 458,40 |
2,8 |
95,34 |
Source: Azerbaijani state customs committee
Most of Azerbaijan's exports as of 2014 (84.32 percent) fell to the export of crude oil. The exports of crude oil decreased by 9.08 percent compared to 2013. This is connected with the decrease in oil production by 2.8 percent in 2014. The export of oil products increased by 12.95 percent during this period. Around 6.25 percent of total exports from the country fell to the oil products.
The export of gas from Azerbaijan (data obtained from the control devices) hit 117.4 percent in 2014. It increased by 8.21 percent as of 2013. As of 2014, the share of gas in a total export volume amounted to 1.4 percent compared to 2.93 percent in 2013.
The gas supply for export from Azerbaijan (data obtained from the control devices) hit 8.565 billion cubic meters in 2014 compared to 7.295 billion cubic meters in 2013. In December, the exports amounted to 1.241 billion cubic meters (the best monthly level in 2014).
Around 1.826 billion cubic meters of gas in the amount of $304.7 million were formalized upon the cargo customs declarations in 2014 compared to 3.035 billion cubic meters of gas in the amount of $701.987 million as of 2013. The exports amounted to 294.81 million cubic meters of gas in the amount of $47.6 in December (the best level in terms of volume in 2014). In 2014, the physical exports of gas reduced by 39.85 percent, while revenues - by 56.6 percent.
Azerbaijan exported 588.32 million kilowatt / hours of electricity in 2014 upon a customs declaration compared to over 595.67 million kilowatt / hours in 2013.
According to the State Customs Committee's report, Azerbaijan exported electricity worth $31.26 million in 2014 compared to $24.85 million in 2013.
The power generation of Azerbaijan's electric power system has increased by 30 percent for the last five years. Currently, the figure is 7,105 megawatts. This allows generating about 24 billion kilowatt / hours of electricity annually. This enables the country to annually export 2.1 billion kilowatt / hours of electricity.
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 16.08 percent in 2014 compared to 2013.
Its supplies to Russia's markets increased. The logistics centers are built in Azerbaijan and outside the country for storage, transportation, export and sale of agricultural products.
In this period, the highest amount of export fell on Italy in 2014. Thus, during this period Azerbaijan exported goods totaling $4.806 billion to Italy which makes up 22.02 percent of a total export volume. Mainly oil and oil products are exported to this country. Indonesia ($2.012 billion) and Germany ($1.925 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
Russia ranks first on largest import volume ($1.314 billion) in 2014. About 14.31 percent of the Azerbaijani imports fell to it. Turkey ranks second - $1.287 billion and Great Britain - third ($978.3 million).
Most of Azerbaijan's imports or 28.12 percent in the reporting period fell to the import of machinery, equipment, electrical equipment and spare parts. The machinery and equipment worth $2.583 billion were imported in 2014 or by 6.36 percent less than in 2013.
A lot of vehicles and parts worth $841.8 million (a share in total imports - 9.16 percent) were brought to the country. However, car imports reduced by 41.3 percent compared to 2013.
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 63,368 cars in 2014 compared to 104,385 cars in 2013.
Around 57,615 cars of the total import volume in 2013 accounted for the passenger cars and motor cars. Around 94,879 cars and motor cars were imported into the country in 2013.
Moreover, in 2014, the country imported 5,054 trucks compared to 7,823 trucks in 2013.
The rest imports 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 11.05 percent in 2014, while this volume was 1.016 billion AZN in nominal terms.
The decline in imports in 2014 was mainly fixed in the import of vehicles, wood and wooden materials, ferrous metals, electrical equipment, cereals, salt, sulfur, finishing materials, lime and cement.
In particular, as of 2014 the import of wood and wooden materials declined by 53.84 percent (to $128.9 million), ferrous metal products - by 10.35 percent (up to $1.016 billion), electrical equipment - by 6.34 percent (up to $2.583 billion), wheat - 25.64 percent (up to $293.94 million), cement - 30.17 percent (to $106.6 million).
The import of butter and meat significantly increased in 2014 (by 28.19 percent and 17.85 percent, accordingly compared to 2013) which is related to insufficient domestic production.
Main products imported to Azerbaijan
Name of products |
2014 |
Compared to 2013, % |
|
cost (thousand dollars) |
Share in import volume, % |
||
Meat |
19 460,51 |
0,21 |
128,19 |
Butter |
25 118,60 |
0,27 |
117,85 |
Milk |
7 525,88 |
0,08 |
79,71 |
Grain |
293 942,81 |
3,2 |
74,36 |
Cars, mechanisms, electric goods, equipment |
2 583 378,49 |
28,12 |
93,66 |
Vehicles and spare parts |
841 898,20 |
9,16 |
58,7 |
Wood and wooden goods |
128 930,19 |
1,4 |
46,16 |
Ferrous metals, tons |
1 015 615,41 |
11,05 |
89,65 |
Furniture and its parts |
115 003,04 |
1,25 |
131,83 |
Pharmaceutical goods |
225 938,32 |
2,46 |
90,36 |
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 2014. These countries formed the foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan only by 43.28 percent or $13.424 billion, while the EU countries - by 47.3 percent ($14.671 billion). Only 9.42 percent or $2.921 billion accounted for the CIS.
Azerbaijan's exports to the EU countries amounted to $1.568 billion in 2014, or 52.99 percent of a total export volume amid a 0.47 percent growth. Imports from EU ($3.103 billion) dropped by 17.48 percent and amounted to 33.78 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 $8.464 billion or 66.96 percent of the country's foreign trade surplus.
The exports to the countries outside the EU and CIS dropped by 13.96 percent - to $9.423 billion in 2014 or 43.17 percent of a total export volume, while imports - by 9 percent to $4.001 billion or 43.55 percent of the total import volume. As a result, Azerbaijan received a $ 5.422 billion trade surplus with these countries.
The exports to the CIS countries for the period totaled $838.1 million (3.84 percent of the total export volume) by decreasing by 44.49 percent and imports - $2.083 billion (22.67 percent) by decreasing by 18.4 percent. As a result, the country had a red ink in trading with them to the amount of $1.2 billion.
During this period, about 6,372 legal and physical entities were involved in foreign trade operations, including 3,727 - legal entities and 2,645 - physical entities.
The share of public sector in exports totaled $20.48 billion, private sector - $1.121 billion, the share of physical entities - $226.2 million. The share of public sector in import operations amounted to $2.34 billion, the private sector - $6.48 billion, physical entities -$364.2 million.
Azerbaijan's trade operations with foreign countries in 2014
Country name |
Export, thousand dollars |
Compared to 2013, % |
Import, thousand dollars |
Compared to import in 2013, % |
Total |
21 828 608,88 |
91,05 |
9 187 696,87 |
85,78 |
Including |
||||
European countries, total |
11 567 574,51 |
100,47 |
3 103 587,67 |
82,52 |
Austria |
345 546,30 |
86,5 |
88 788,76 |
99,46 |
Belgium |
1 482,81 |
19,27 |
96 701,10 |
140,94 |
Bulgaria |
61 154,75 |
51,34 |
63 442,13 |
323,28 |
Great Britain |
126 447,95 |
26,11 |
978 337,26 |
73,34 |
Hungary |
71 614,84 |
1561,10 times |
23 937,76 |
72,72 |
Germany |
1 925 563,41 |
141,93 |
703 636,97 |
85,49 |
Greece |
255 988,28 |
31,59 |
62 789,74 |
13,14 times |
Denmark |
757,64 |
243,12 |
19 133,64 |
74,93 |
Ireland |
47,84 |
0,14 |
12 083,45 |
100,98 |
Spain |
783 669,10 |
10,46 times |
49 379,67 |
74,91 |
Italy |
4 805 617,56 |
80,23 |
272 643,40 |
110,08 |
Cyprus |
0 |
0 |
8 449,42 |
16,55 |
Latvia |
845,46 |
35,72 |
9 685,67 |
88,13 |
Lithuania |
702,72 |
31,83 |
29 646,32 |
151,41 |
Luxemburg |
158,96 |
76,35 |
3 939,44 |
26,28 |
Malta |
86 270,46 |
2334,90 times |
276,82 |
26,23 |
Netherlands |
19 135,40 |
102,84 |
188 840,52 |
104,34 |
Poland |
16 329,85 |
159,76 |
62 348,91 |
134,13 |
Portugal |
552 149,45 |
105,02 |
6 489,31 |
265,62 |
Romania |
86 252,71 |
93,36 |
55 847,43 |
153,2 |
Slovakia |
31,63 |
800 |
19 035,35 |
78,95 |
Slovenia |
13,15 |
68,79 |
8 646,51 |
70,75 |
Finland |
30,8 |
188,2 |
70 868,61 |
110,9 |
France |
1 523 482,80 |
134,69 |
157 356,83 |
36,99 |
Croatia |
311 673,25 |
146,15 |
11 298,62 |
121,67 |
Czech Republic |
592 036,24 |
274,19 |
45 938,19 |
51,56 |
Sweden |
348,2 |
582,23 |
49 654,82 |
117,49 |
Estonia |
222,95 |
28,91 |
4 391,03 |
58,46 |
Other countries, total |
9 422 978,20 |
86,04 |
4 000 921,38 |
91,01 |
Albania |
0 |
0 |
5,44 |
29,24 times |
Australia |
326,82 |
176,63 |
4 609,82 |
39,66 |
Algeria |
673,19 |
68,93 |
242,98 |
20,94 times |
Anguilla |
0 |
0 |
2 246,68 |
47,63 |
Angola |
212,35 |
262,04 times |
3,02 |
24,05 |
Andorra |
0 |
0 |
32,02 |
4,44 |
Argentina |
58,57 |
83,72 |
10 986,80 |
156,29 |
Aruba |
17,54 |
890,12 |
0 |
0 |
Afghanistan |
275 990,15 |
134,41 |
0 |
0 |
Bahama Islands |
25 662,12 |
0 |
0,97 |
0 |
Bangladesh |
0 |
0 |
834,07 |
10,46 times |
Barbados |
0 |
0 |
251,43 |
992,16 |
Bahrain |
21,78 |
128,13 |
1,39 |
0,53 |
Belize |
0 |
0 |
2 944,72 |
115,2 |
Bermuda islands |
12,53 |
47,99 |
0 |
0 |
Bolivia |
18,04 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
397,15 |
0 |
469,6 |
190,23 |
Brazil |
322,42 |
114,95 |
221 431,07 |
59,56 |
Brunei Darussalam |
3,74 |
66,94 |
0,14 |
319,61 |
Virgin Islands (Great Britain) |
0 |
0 |
990,29 |
61,66 |
Venezuela |
5,85 |
0 |
4 967,11 |
98,33 |
Vietnam |
75 370,82 |
24,91 |
4 390,35 |
84,4 |
Gabon |
29,88 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Guinea |
0,29 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Hong Kong |
208,96 |
9,67 |
1 875,60 |
231,51 |
Greenland |
0 |
0 |
52,27 |
0 |
Georgia |
529 549,12 |
102 |
93 888,75 |
71,51 |
Guam (U.S) |
0 |
0 |
13,65 |
0 |
Jabalia |
64 535,72 |
0 |
16,42 |
3,48 |
Dominique |
0 |
0 |
9,53 |
43,71 |
Dominican Republic |
0 |
0 |
306,13 |
26,75 times |
Egypt |
91 528,00 |
156,66 |
2 479,93 |
72,46 |
Israel |
1 766 949,60 |
140,16 |
23 958,70 |
136,19 |
India |
778 249,98 |
70,85 |
36 946,87 |
74,42 |
Indonesia |
2 012 316,53 |
72,6 |
32 753,44 |
113,81 |
Jordan |
39,57 |
73,87 |
954,27 |
46,07 |
Iceland |
0 |
0 |
1 338,22 |
123,75 |
Iraq |
236 589,96 |
66,9 |
398,19 |
72,76 |
Iran |
39 441,68 |
53,77 |
147 156,17 |
70,86 |
Yemen |
174,01 |
152,88 |
0 |
0 |
Cambodia |
3,81 |
0 |
102,16 |
127 |
Cameroon |
0 |
0 |
17,44 |
17,78 |
Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
0 |
0 |
89,87 |
0 |
Cayman Islands |
22,66 |
171,19 |
0 |
0 |
Canada |
220 248,16 |
4227,37 times |
34 496,89 |
237,22 |
Qatar |
330,7 |
15,75 |
16,44 |
4,56 |
Congo |
0,56 |
3,57 |
0 |
0 |
Kenya |
0 |
0 |
130,31 |
137,25 |
China |
63 862,82 |
72,06 |
697 082,45 |
123,08 |
Columbia |
0,89 |
62,15 |
111,33 |
14,17 |
Republic of Korea |
13,83 |
0,04 |
186 296,43 |
81,25 |
Costa-Rica |
0 |
0 |
312,68 |
204,26 |
Côte d'Ivoire |
0 |
0 |
0,43 |
8,02 |
Cuba |
0 |
0 |
44,12 |
559,05 |
Kuwait |
27,02 |
174,14 |
406,27 |
717,15 |
Curaçao |
0 |
0 |
13,95 |
0 |
Lebanon |
35 091,20 |
596,77 times |
1 535,99 |
154,02 |
Libya |
25 760,00 |
15,49 |
910,53 |
104,13 |
Liechtenstein |
0 |
0 |
1,13 |
35,93 |
Republic of Mauritius |
2,8 |
0 |
0,64 |
0 |
Madagascar |
0 |
0 |
35,95 |
767,82 |
Macedonia |
2,71 |
6,21 |
693,18 |
167,61 |
Malaysia |
11 293,06 |
141,75 times |
21 876,93 |
72,29 |
Morocco |
38,5 |
0,06 |
55,7 |
360,15 |
Marshall Islands |
0 |
0 |
142,62 |
160,35 |
Mexico |
80,62 |
245,12 |
7 127,38 |
114,9 |
Mozambique |
0 |
0 |
36,65 |
141,42 |
Monaco |
2,86 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Mongolia |
276,17 |
52,21 |
41,04 |
207,27 |
Montenegro |
84,87 |
740,59 |
0,37 |
94,83 |
Isle of Man |
85,65 |
138,09 |
0,48 |
0 |
Myanmar |
0 |
0 |
15,49 |
0 |
Nepal |
0 |
0 |
49,93 |
838,75 |
Nigeria |
53,28 |
308,68 |
21,05 |
28,05 times |
New Zealand |
143,25 |
70,3 |
20 965,46 |
134,52 |
Norway |
2 019,35 |
302,58 |
31 902,59 |
84,03 |
United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
4 322,66 |
50,33 |
61 147,23 |
64,49 |
Oman |
20,87 |
0,47 |
78,94 |
47,54 |
Pakistan |
194,65 |
660,93 |
2 607,67 |
237,8 |
Panama |
1 725,00 |
84,25 |
564,62 |
4,05 |
Paraguay |
0 |
0 |
13,24 |
0 |
Papua New Guinea |
1,02 |
48,41 |
0 |
0 |
Palestine |
0 |
0 |
35,91 |
0 |
Peru |
0 |
0 |
41,89 |
73,08 |
Puerto Rico (USA) |
0 |
0 |
79,53 |
204,28 |
Samoa (США) |
0 |
0 |
3,99 |
0 |
Saudi Arabia |
128,64 |
230,41 |
14 531,04 |
48,01 |
San Marino |
0 |
0 |
137,22 |
74,51 |
Saint-Martin |
0 |
0 |
0,38 |
0 |
Serbia |
5,15 |
36,53 |
3 831,38 |
70,82 |
Seychelles |
0 |
0 |
169,94 |
4,3 |
Singapore |
59 953,72 |
239,33 times |
41 459,54 |
89,29 |
Syria |
0 |
0 |
125,63 |
70,53 |
United States of America (USA) |
745 827,00 |
75,31 |
563 419,26 |
149,73 |
Sudan |
69,06 |
13,22 times |
65,58 |
50,22 |
Sierra-Leone |
7 |
103,7 |
0 |
0 |
Tanzania |
4,04 |
0 |
29,76 |
0 |
Taiwan |
432 067,28 |
92,46 |
11 617,04 |
63,91 |
Thailand |
839 912,24 |
50,43 |
29 892,90 |
135,68 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
122,7 |
266,27 |
109,82 |
108,09 times |
Tunisia |
420 617,63 |
225,12 |
1 090,51 |
306,78 |
Turkey |
502 492,84 |
95,53 |
1 286 641,39 |
87,9 |
Philippines |
0 |
0 |
815,27 |
247,07 |
Chile |
0 |
0 |
1 163,20 |
89,89 |
Switzerland |
154 933,56 |
208,22 |
94 356,70 |
59,12 |
Sri-Lanka |
0 |
0 |
15 906,43 |
90,84 |
Uganda |
37,12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Uruguay |
5 |
0 |
5 762,66 |
294,33 |
Ecuador |
8,69 |
0 |
6 998,57 |
80,87 |
Ethiopia |
0 |
0 |
2,08 |
0 |
South African Republic |
91,13 |
407,32 |
1 718,22 |
2,3 |
Jamaica |
0 |
0 |
11 291,86 |
174,52 |
Japan |
1 230,85 |
5,46 |
240 506,49 |
83,41 |
Others |
1 049,27 |
93,58 |
0 |
0 |
CIS countries, total: |
838 056,17 |
55,51 |
2 083 187,82 |
81,6 |
Belarus |
15 095,09 |
102,71 |
83 937,65 |
96,11 |
Kazakhstan |
29 839,50 |
46,45 |
221 056,10 |
72,11 |
Kyrgyzstan |
25 800,15 |
202,18 |
1 702,69 |
96,35 |
Moldova |
68,38 |
35,96 |
5 433,03 |
135,3 |
Uzbekistan |
37 900,34 |
354,92 |
23 611,94 |
219,25 |
Russia |
640 271,31 |
59,4 |
1 314 480,40 |
87,33 |
Tajikistan |
2 636,72 |
19,16 |
187,96 |
437,73 |
Turkmenistan |
38 002,64 |
95,36 |
13 198,39 |
27,33 |
Ukraine |
48 442,04 |
17,58 |
419 579,65 |
71,22 |
source: Azerbaijani state customs committee