The June 2020 issue of the “Export Review” prepared by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) has been released.

During January–May 2020, Azerbaijan’s total exports amounted to 6.9 billion USD, of which 721 million USD accounted for non-oil sector exports. Non-oil exports decreased by 8.9% compared to the same period of the previous year.

During the first five months of the year, non-oil goods were exported mainly to Russia (271 million USD), Türkiye (144.3 million USD), Georgia (70.5 million USD), Switzerland (71.5 million USD), and China (23.6 million USD).

Compared to the same period in 2019, non-oil exports increased by 3.6% to Russia, 26% to Switzerland, and 40.3% to China in the first five months of 2020.

The main non-oil export products during January–May 2020 were tomatoes (123.1 million USD), gold in other unwrought forms not intended for coinage (64.7 million USD), and shelled hazelnuts (51 million USD).

Overall, during the first five months of 2020, exports included fruit and vegetables (236.5 million USD), cotton fiber (49.5 million USD), aluminum and aluminum products (31.5 million USD), chemical industry products (34.4 million USD), ferrous metals and products thereof (19.5 million USD), cotton yarn (9.2 million USD), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (5.7 million USD), and sugar (5.9 million USD).

In May 2020, non-oil sector exports amounted to 172.6 million USD, representing a 17.8% decrease compared to the previous period. In the same month, non-oil exports were mainly directed to Russia (84.8 million USD), Switzerland (23 million USD), Türkiye (22.2 million USD), Georgia (11.7 million USD), and China (5.4 million USD).

In May 2020, the top exported non-oil products were tomatoes (49.7 million USD), gold in other unwrought forms (21 million USD), and potatoes (19.9 million USD).

The “Export Review” also presents a ranking of major non-state exporting companies. The top ten exporters in January–May 2020 included SOCAR Polymer LLC, the Azerbaijan representative office of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited, Land Logistics LLC, MKT Industrial Commercial LLC, Fruit Store LLC, Sun Food LLC, STDC LLC, Agrovest LLC, Global Trade Group LLC, and Baku Steel Company.

Among state-owned companies involved in non-oil exports, SOCAR’s Marketing and Economic Operations Department leads the list, followed by Azerenerji JSC, AzerGold CJSC, Azeraluminium LLC, Azerbaijan Cotton Agricultural Industrial Complex LLC, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, Azerbaijan Thermal Power Plant LLC, AzerTütün Agricultural Industrial Complex LLC, the State Energy Service of Nakhchivan MR, and ASK Glass LLC.

The report also highlights service exports. In January–May 2020, Azercosmos OJSC exported satellite telecommunications and optical satellite services worth 19.1 million USD to 26 countries, marking a 19% increase compared to the previous year. Service exports accounted for 90% of Azercosmos’ total revenue. The main export destinations included the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.

It is also noted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decline in the number of visitors to Azerbaijan has been observed since March. In May alone, foreign citizens’ transactions via bank cards in Azerbaijan amounted to 24.3 million AZN, while the total for January–May reached 256 million AZN.

The report further states that export orders received by the Azexport.az portal amounted to 273.9 million USD during January–May 2020. In May alone, export orders reached 64.7 million USD. The most requested products included tomatoes, hazelnuts, licorice root, tobacco, eggs, wheat flour, potatoes, carrot, beetroot, cabbage, garlic, onions, wine, confectionery products, metal structures, paint, tea, pomegranate concentrate, honey, cherries, fruit compotes, and others.

From January 2017 to May 30, 2020 (over 41 months), the total value of export orders received by Azexport.az from 141 countries reached 1.9 billion USD.

The report also notes that in June 2020, non-oil exports facilitated through the “Single Window” Export Support Center amounted to 23.7 million USD. During January–June 2020, hundreds of entrepreneurs were issued export certificates through the center, resulting in non-oil exports worth 70.3 million USD.

The purpose of the “Export Review” is to raise awareness among entrepreneurs about exports, expand opportunities for local products to enter traditional and new markets, and accelerate integration into international markets.