The April 2020 issue of the Export Review prepared by the CAERC (Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication) has been presented. During January–March 2020, Azerbaijan exported non-oil sector goods worth USD 429 million. Compared to the corresponding period of 2019, non-oil exports increased by USD 13.7 million, or 3.3 percent, in January–March 2020.

During January–March of this year, non-oil sector goods worth USD 134.4 million were exported to Russia, USD 104.4 million to Turkey, USD 42.9 million to Georgia, USD 40.8 million to Switzerland, and USD 12.2 million to China.

Compared to the corresponding period of 2019, non-oil exports in the first quarter of 2020 increased by 16.6 percent to Russia, 5.2 percent to Turkey, 21.1 percent to Switzerland, and 18.4 percent to China.

Among non-oil sector goods exported in January–March 2020, tomatoes ranked first with USD 43.9 million, cotton fiber ranked second with USD 42.8 million, and gold (not used for coin minting, in other unprocessed forms) ranked third with USD 36.3 million.

Overall, in the first quarter of 2020, exports amounted to USD 113.3 million for fruits and vegetables, USD 46.4 million for plastics and plastic products, USD 43.4 million for cotton fiber, USD 21.4 million for aluminum and aluminum products, USD 19.8 million for chemical industry products, USD 17.8 million for electricity, USD 11.9 million for ferrous metals and related products, USD 8.6 million for cotton yarn, USD 4.3 million for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and USD 2.9 million for sugar.

In March 2020, non-oil sector exports totaled USD 133 million. During the same month, non-oil and non-gas products were exported mainly to Russia (USD 46.4 million), Turkey (USD 29 million), Switzerland (USD 12 million), Georgia (USD 8 million), and Ukraine (USD 6.2 million).

In March 2020, tomatoes ranked first in non-oil exports with USD 19.2 million, shelled forest hazelnuts ranked second with USD 14.1 million, and cotton fiber ranked third with USD 12.9 million.

The April issue of the Export Review also presents a ranking of the leading non-oil exporting companies. According to the ranking of non-state exporters for January–March 2020, the top ten include: Socar Polymer LLC, MKT Production and Commercial LLC, the Azerbaijan Representative Office of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited, Land Logistic LLC, STDC LLC, Agrovest LLC, P-Agro LLC, Sun Food LLC, Natural Fruit LLC, and Baku Steel Company.

Among state-owned companies participating in non-oil export operations and exporting more than USD 100,000, the Marketing and Economic Operations Department of SOCAR ranks first. It is followed by AzerGold CJSC, Azerenerji OJSC, Azeraluminium LLC, Azerpambiq Agro-Industrial Complex LLC, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, Azerbaijan Thermal Power Plant LLC, and ASK Glass LLC.

The Export Review also covers service exports. It is reported that in January–March 2020, Azerkosmos OJSC exported services worth USD 10.4 million to 24 countries, including satellite telecommunications and optical satellite services. Revenue from service exports accounted for 88 percent of Azerkosmos OJSC’s total revenues. The main countries to which services were exported during this period were the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the UAE, and Germany.

At the same time, the Export Review reports that transactions conducted via bank cards by foreign citizens visiting Azerbaijan amounted to AZN 53.9 million in March 2020. Overall, during January–March 2020, the total value of such transactions reached AZN 212 million.

The Export Review also provides information on export orders received through the Azexport.az portal. It indicates that export orders worth USD 147.7 million were received via the portal in January–March 2020. In March 2020 alone, the value of export orders reached USD 44.8 million, representing a 36.6 percent increase compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

In March this year, the highest number of export orders received through the Azexport.az portal related to potatoes, onions, tomatoes, medical gauze, apples, garlic, tobacco, cottonseed oil, ginger, mineral water, wine, confectionery products, tea, eggs, pomegranate wine, furniture, hazelnuts, construction materials, paint, cosmetics, metal structures, honey, furniture sets, and other products.

For reference, from January 2017 to 31 March 2020 (over 39 months), export orders received through the Azexport.az portal from 141 countries worldwide totaled USD 1.7325 billion.

The Export Review also notes that in April this year, the value of non-oil exports carried out through the One-Stop-Shop Export Support Center amounted to USD 1.9 million. During January–April 2020, hundreds of entrepreneurs received relevant export-related certificates through the One-Stop-Shop Export Support Center, resulting in non-oil exports exceeding USD 39 million.

It should be noted that the purpose of the Export Review is to raise awareness among entrepreneurs about exports, expand opportunities for local products to access traditional and new markets, and accelerate integration into international markets.

The Export Review can be accessed in the “Reviews” section of the website www.iqtisadiislahat.org.