BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 13. Azerbaijan's legal and physical entities carried out trade operations with partners in 180 countries, exporting products to 122 countries and importing goods from 170 countries in 2024.
The data obtained by Trend from the State Statistical Committee shows that the foreign trade turnover for the year amounted to around $47.4 billion, factoring in the statistical estimate of exported crude oil and natural gas, which were recorded by customs but not fully processed.
Of this, over $26.3 billion (55.6 percent of the trade turnover) accounted for exported goods, while imports amounted to more than $21 billion (44.4 percent), resulting in a positive trade balance of $5.28 billion.
Moreover, the foreign trade turnover grew by 1.3 percent in nominal terms and 3.5 percent in real terms compared to 2023. Exports saw a decline of 7.4 percent, while imports increased by 3.1 percent.
Non-oil and gas exports in 2024 amounted to around $3.36 billion, marking a slight increase of 0.3 percent in nominal terms, but a 13 percent drop in real terms.
The data from the State Customs Committee shows that 23.9 percent of the country’s foreign trade turnover was directed towards Italy, 12.9 percent to Türkiye, 10.1 percent to Russia, 7.9 percent to China, 3.7 percent to the US, 3.4 percent to Germany, 3.1 percent to Australia, 2.4 percent to the Czech Republic, 2 percent to India, 1.8 percent to Croatia, 1.7 percent to Georgia, 1.6 percent to Israel, 1.5 percent to Bulgaria, 1.4 percent each to Greece, the UK, Iran, and Portugal, 1.2 percent to Romania, 1.1 percent to Belarus, and 1 percent each to Kazakhstan, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Trade operations with other countries accounted for a total of 13.1 percent of the turnover.
The country's 41 percent of exports went to Italy, 14.4 percent to Türkiye, 4.4 percent to Russia, 4.1 percent to the Czech Republic, 3.3 percent to Croatia, 2.9 percent to Germany, 2.8 percent to India and Israel each, 2.6 percent to Bulgaria, 2.5 percent to Georgia, 2.4 percent to Portugal and Greece each, 1.8 percent to Romania, 1.5 percent to the UK, 1.1 percent to Tunisia, 0.9 percent to Thailand, 0.8 percent to Switzerland, 0.7 percent to Serbia, Indonesia, and Ukraine each, 0.6 percent to Spain and the Netherlands, and 5 percent to other countries.
In the value of non-oil and gas exports, the share of goods sent to Russia was 34.6 percent, to Türkiye 16.2 percent, to Georgia 8.1 percent, to Switzerland 6.6 percent, to the US 4 percent, to Kazakhstan 3.9 percent, to Ukraine 3.5 percent, to Turkmenistan 2.3 percent, to Oman 2 percent, to the UAE 1.6 percent, to Germany 1.5 percent, to Belarus 1.4 percent, to Italy 1.3 percent, to the Netherlands 1.3 percent, to Uzbekistan 1.2 percent, and to Romania 1 percent.
Of the total value of imported products, 17.7 percent came from China, 17.2 percent from Russia, 11 percent from Türkiye, 7.7 percent from the US, 6.9 percent from Australia, 3.9 percent from Germany, 3 percent from Iran, 2.4 percent from Italy, 2.2 percent from Belarus, 1.9 percent from Japan, 1.8 percent from South Korea, 1.6 percent from Kazakhstan, 1.4 percent from Turkmenistan, 1.3 percent from Ukraine, and the UK each, 1.2 percent from Switzerland, 1.1 percent from Mexico, France, and India each, 1 percent from Uzbekistan, 0.8 percent from Brazil, and Canada each, and 11.6 percent from other countries.
In 2024, exports of fresh vegetables increased by 0.7 percent, sugar by 59.9 percent, tobacco by 2.5 times, canned fruits and vegetables by 16.1 percent, vegetable oils by 81.1 percent, margarine, and other food mixtures by 60.3 percent, tea by 2.1 percent, cotton fiber by 71.3 percent, mineral fertilizers by 56 percent, cotton yarn by 3.2 percent, and bentonite clay by 27.6 percent. However, the export of fresh fruits decreased by 2.2 percent, potatoes by 32.1 percent, fruit, and vegetable juices by 12.5 percent, natural grape wines and grape must by 42.6 percent, polypropylene by 27.5 percent, polyethylene by 23.1 percent, electricity by 59.4 percent, unprocessed aluminum by 17.4 percent, cement clinker by 1.2 percent, ferrous metal rods by 2.6 percent, and ferrous metal pipes by 1.5 percent compared to 2023.
In 2024, wheat imports increased by 9.9 percent, vegetable oils by 29.5 percent, butter, other milk fats, and pastes by 78.4 percent, fresh fruits by 20.6 percent, raw sugar by 5.9 percent, flour confectionery by 11.5 percent, chocolate, and chocolate products by 11.7 percent, tea by 5.2 percent, poultry meat and products from it by 43.2 percent, beef by 46.4 percent, fresh vegetables by 53.3 percent, calculating machines, blocks, and devices by 21.6 percent, trucks by 15.7 percent, furniture by 36.6 percent, synthetic detergents by 7.8 percent, ferrous metal rods by 65.1 percent, household air conditioners by 45 percent, mineral fertilizers by 17.4 percent, buses by 2.5 times, washing machines by 6.2 percent, polypropylene by 19.9 percent, household refrigerators by 1.6 percent, cement by 1.7 percent. However, imports of potatoes decreased by 13.6 percent, cigarettes by 79.4 percent, passenger cars by 6.5 percent, medicines by 24.9 percent, rolled steel by 5.2 percent, ferrous metal pipes by 10.8 percent, rubber tires by 1.7 percent, polyethylene by 9.5 percent, and ferrous metal angles by 11.2 percent compared to 2023.