The foreign trade turnover with 165 world countries amounted to $20.65 billion in 2015, or 33.4 percent less than in 2014. The volume of exports decreased by 47.66 percent and amounted to $11.4 billion compared to 2014. The volume of import increased by 0.36 percent and amounted to $9.2 billion.

Azerbaijan exported 2,477 goods and imported 6,231 different goods.

As of 2015, the nominal index of export exceeded import. This formed the foreign trade surplus to the amount of $2.2 billion.

At the same time, the exports amounted to $805.38 million, while imports exceeded $1 billion in December 2015.

The country's foreign trade surplus hit $206.7 billion.

As in previous periods, oil, gas and oil products were mainly exported from Azerbaijan in 2015.

Main products exported from Azerbaijan:

Source: Azerbaijani state customs committee

Most of Azerbaijan's exports as of 2015 (77.61 percent) fell to the export of crude oil. During the reporting period, the country exported oil worth $8.86 billion. The cost of crude oil exports decreased by 51.83 percent compared to 2014. This is connected with a decrease in the world oil prices.

Some 26.7 million tons of oil were transported via the Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, 4.2 million tons - the Baku-Supsa pipeline, 1.19 million tons - via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline and 0.43 million tons were shipped by rail to Baku-Batumi in 2015.

Currently, SOCAR supplies oil from Azerbaijan to about 30 countries in Europe, Asia and America. Among its largest European importers are Italy (23 percent), Germany (11 percent), France (9 percent).

SOCAR's share in total exports of Azerbaijani oil is about 70 percent.

The physical export of oil products from the country and export proceeds decreased in 2015 compared to 2014. The export of oil products from the country amounted to 2.198 million tons worth $751.9 million. This is by 44.9 percent less than the export for 2014 ($1.365 billion).

The export growth was 4.4 percent from year to year. The export of oil products ensured 6.58 percent of the country's total exports in 2015.

The export of gas from Azerbaijan (according to the meters) decreased by 1.87 percent in 2015. As of 2015, the share of gas in total exports amounted to 1.76 percent compared to 1.4 percent as of 2014, 2.93 percent in 2013, 2.71 percent in 2012 and 2.61 percent in 2011.

The gas supplied for export, according to the meters, amounted to 8.405 billion cubic meters in 2015 compared to 8.565 billion cubic meters in 2014.

Some 1.276 billion cubic meters in the amount of $200.74 million were registered upon the cargo customs declarations in 2015 compared to 1.826 billion cubic meters in the amount of $304.7 million in 2014. As a result, the physical gas exports dropped by 30 percent, and its revenues - by 34.1 percent.

Azerbaijan exported 276.8 million kilowatt / hours of electricity upon customs declarations in 2015 compared to 588.3 million kilowatts / hours exported in 2014. Azerbaijan exported electricity worth $16.2 million in 2015 compared to $31.26 million in 2014. The revenues sharply decreased here.

The exports of chemical products reached $79.9 million in 2015 or 0.7 percent of total exports. It increased by 5.08 percent compared to 2014.

The volume of exports of fruits and vegetables which are the basis of agricultural exports of Azerbaijan greatly increased. The exports of agricultural products in Azerbaijan increased by 7.16 percent in 2015 compared to 2014.The agricultural products are mainly supplied to the Russian markets. The logistics centers are being built in Azerbaijan and outside the country for storage, transportation, export and sale of agricultural products.

In this period, the largest amount of export fell on Italy in 2015. Thus, during this period Azerbaijan exported goods totaling $2.25 billion to Italy which makes up 19.73 percent of a total export volume. Oil and oil products are mainly exported to this country. Germany ($1.22 billion) and France $864.15 million) 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 ($1.43 billion) in 2015. Some 15.59 percent of the Azerbaijani imports fell to it. Turkey ranks second - $1.17 billion and the US - third ($847.38 million).

Most of Azerbaijan's imports or 26.73 percent in the reporting period fell to the import of machinery, mechanisms, equipment, electrical equipment and spare parts. The machinery and equipment worth $2.46 billion were imported in 2015, which is by 4.57 percent less than in 2014.

The import of ferrous metals consolidated its positions in the country's foreign trade. The share of these products in a total import volume of the country hit 17.21 percent in 2015, while this volume was 1.58 billion manat in nominal terms or by 56.24 percent more than in 2014.

Many vehicles and spare parts worth $1.21 billion (a share in total imports - 13.2 percent) were supplied to the country. The car imports increased by almost 44.54 percent compared to 2014.

However, despite an increase in the value of imports of these products, Azerbaijan reduced the import of cars twofold.

Some 26,785 cars were imported to Azerbaijan in 2015 compared to 63,368 cars imported in 2014.

Some 23,765 vehicles of the total number of vehicles imported during this period accounted for the cars and motor vehicles. Some 57,615 cars and motor vehicles were imported into the country in 2014. Moreover, some 1,961 trucks were imported to Azerbaijan in 2015 (5,054 trucks in 2014). The rest import accounted for other types of vehicles.

Azerbaijan passed to the Euro-4 ecological standard. That's why, the car supply volumes declined. It has been used since April 1, 2014. The introduction of Euro 4 standard greatly limits the import of used vehicles. Most of vehicles imported from Georgia to Azerbaijan accounted for the used cars.

The import of wood and wood products significantly increased in 2015 (by 78.22 percent compared to 2014). This is associated with an increase in its using in the construction and reconstruction work in the country.

Main products imported to Azerbaijan:

source: Azerbaijani state customs committee

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the countries-non-EU and CIS members did not restore their status as the main trading partners of the country in January-November.

These countries formed the foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan by 40.99 percent or $8.464 billion, while the EU countries - by 46.96 percent ($8.892 billion). Only 12.05 percent or $2.486 billion accounted for the CIS.

Azerbaijan's exports to the EU countries amounted to $6.751 billion in 2015, or 59.1 percent of a total export volume amid a 43.6 percent decrease. Imports from EU ($2.943 billion) decreased by 5.18 percent and amounted to 31.92 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 $3.808 billion. This exceeded the country's foreign trade surplus.

The exports to the countries-non-EU and CIS members dropped by 55.99 percent - to $4.147 billion in 2015 or 36.3 percent of a total export volume, while imports increased by 7.93 percent and hit $4.317 billion or 46.82 percent of the total import volume. As a result, Azerbaijan received a $0.169 billion red ink with these countries.

The exports to the CIS countries for the period totaled $0.525 billion (4.6 percent of the total export volume) by decreasing by 37.31 percent and imports - $1.961 billion (21.27 percent) by decreasing by 5.86 percent. As a result, the country had a red ink in trading with them to the amount of $1.436 billion.

During this period, about 7,159 legal and physical entities were involved in foreign trade operations, including 3,593 - legal entities and 3,566 - physical entities.

The share of public sector in exports totaled $10.1 billion, private sector - $1.1 billion, the share of physical entities - $223 million.

The share of public sector in import operations amounted to over $1.6 billion, the private sector - $7.2 billion, physical entities -$344.3 million.

Azerbaijan's trade operations with foreign countries in 2015:

source: Azerbaijani state customs committee