Foreign trade of Azerbaijan (January-June 2013)

The foreign trade turnover with 137 world countries amounted to $17.14 billion in January-June 2013, or 0.16 percent less than in January-June 2012. The volume of exports decreased by 5.83 percent to $11.97 billion compared to the same period of 2012. The volume of import increased by 16.01 percent and hit $5.17 billion. Azerbaijan exported 1,560 products, and imported 5,347 different goods. As of Jan.-June 2013, the nominal index of export exceeded import. This formed the foreign trade surplus to the amount of $6.8 billion.

As in previous periods, oil, gas and oil products were mainly exported from Azerbaijan in Jan.-June 2013.

Main products exported from Azerbaijan

Source:Azerbaijani state customs committee

Most of Azerbaijan's exports as of Jan.-June 2013 (83.04 percent) fell to the export of crude oil.

The exports of crude oil decreased by 9.6 percent compared to Jan.-June 2012.

The export of oil products increased by 5.95 percent during this period. As of Jan.-June 2013, around 5.35 percent of total exports from the country fell to the oil products.

Some 14.06 million tons of oil were transported via the Heydar Aliyev Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, 1.92 million tons - the Baku-Supsa pipeline, 823,300 tons - via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline and 478,500 tons were shipped by rail to Baku-Batumi in January-June.

In January-June 2013, gas exports from Azerbaijan (data obtained from meters) hit 48.05 percent of export as of 2012. As of January-June 2013, the share of gas in a total export volume was 3.86 percent compared to 2.71 percent as of 2012. In January-June 2013, gas exports from the country amounted to 3.358.7 billion cubic meters (data obtained from meters).

Around 485.8 million cubic meters were exported in June compared to 527.8 million cubic meters in May. An export price in 2013 totaled $238.95 per 1,000 cubic meters.

Azerbaijan has been a net exporter of gas since 2007, primarily due to Shah Deniz field.

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, exports of chemical products decreased by 66.72 percent in Jan.-June 2013.

An increase in production on the main types of chemical products was observed.

The share of chemical products was 0.27 percent in the total volume of exports.

Azerbaijan exported raw cotton to the amount of $12.162.93 million in January-June 2013 or by over 2 times more compared to the same period of 2012. The share of cotton exports in total export volume was 0.10 percent.

In this period, the highest amount of export fell on Italy. Thus, during the reported period Azerbaijan exported commodities to Italy totaling $2.863.99 bln which makes up 23.93 percent of total exports. Mainly oil and oil products are exported to this country. Indonesia ($1.316.86 bln) and Thailand ($1.117.34 bln) 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 ($745.5 million) in Jan.-June 2013. About 14.41 percent of the Azerbaijani imports fell to it. Turkey ranks second - $711.40 million and Great Britain - third ($510.95 million).

The largest flour volumes (increased by 16.8 times) were imported to Azerbaijan in January-June 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. Its share in total imports is 0.26 percent.

The growth of flour import is explained by the fact that in late September 2012, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers signed a resolution to exempt imported wheat, meslin, wheat and wheat-rye flour from the value added tax (VAT) for the period of one year. grain import increased by 28.96 percent.

The growth of vehicle imports into the country increased by 28.18 percent in Jan.-June compared to the previous periods.

Timber and wood products were also mainly imported in January-June 2013. Imports of these products into the country increased by 9.71 percent compared to January-June 2012. The growth of timber imports is associated with the growing use of this material in the construction and reconstruction work in the country.

Main products imported to Azerbaijan

source: Azerbaijani state customs committee

According to the State Customs Committee, Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover with CIS countries in Jan.-June 2013 amounted to $1.993 billion or 11.6 percent of total volume of Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover. Exports to CIS countries for the period totaled $738 million (6.17 percent of total export) by increasing by 1.37 times and imports - $1.254 billion (24.24 percent of total import) by increasing by 11.91 percent. As a result, the country had a red ink in trading with them to the amount of $515 million.

Thus, Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover with EU countries amounted to $7.489 billion in January-June 2013, or 43.68 percent of the country's foreign trade turnover.

Around 44.69 percent of Azerbaijan's foreign trade turnover fell to the countries-non EU and CIS members in January-June or $17.144 billion.

In January-June Azerbaijani exports to the EU countries amounted to $5.748 billion, or 48.02 percent of total exports ($11.970 billion), although decreased by 4.65 percent. Imports from EU ($1.741 billion) increased by 41.24 percent to 33.65 percent of total imports ($5.174 billion). As a result, the country had a trade surplus with the EU at the level of $4.007 billion or 58.97 percent of the country's trade surplus ($ 6.795 billion).

In January-June, exports to the countries-non EU and CIS members decreased by 11.68 percent - up to $5.483 billion or 45.81 percent of total exports.

Imports increased by 3.43 percent and hit $2.179 billion or 42.11 percent of all imports. As a result, the country received surplus worth $ 3.304 billion with these countries.

During this period, about 4,786 legal and physical entities were involved in foreign trade operations, including 3,067 - legal entities and 1,719 - physical entities.

The share of public sector in exports totaled $11.25 billion (93.98 percent), private sector - $620.1 million (5.18 percent), the share of physical entities - $96.66 million (0.8 percent).

The share of public sector in import operations amounted to $1.6 billion (30.98 percent), the private sector - $3.3 billion (63.82 percent), physical entities -$267.04 million (5.17 percent).

Azerbaijan's trade operations with foreign countries in Jan.-June 2013

source: Azerbaijani state customs committee