The September 2020 issue of the “Export Review” published by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) has been released. During the first eight months of 2020, Azerbaijan’s total exports amounted to USD 9.9 billion, while non-oil sector exports reached USD 1.153 billion. Non-oil exports decreased by USD 124 million, or 9.7%, compared to the same period of the previous year.

During January–August of this year, non-oil goods worth USD 450.3 million were exported to Russia, USD 226.9 million to Türkiye, USD 138.5 million to Switzerland, USD 92 million to Georgia, and USD 32.7 million to China.

In January–August 2020, tomatoes ranked first among non-oil export goods with USD 167 million, followed by gold (in unwrought, other semi-manufactured forms not used for coinage) with USD 124.4 million, and cotton lint with USD 78.6 million.

Overall, during the first eight months of 2020, exports included USD 376.3 million in fruits and vegetables, USD 77.6 million in cotton fiber, USD 63.6 million in aluminum and aluminum products, USD 52.4 million in chemical industry products, USD 31.5 million in ferrous metals and their products, USD 12.5 million in copper and copper products, USD 118.5 million in plastics and plastic products, USD 11.3 million in cotton yarn, USD 8.4 million in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, USD 11.5 million in sugar, USD 15 million in animal and vegetable fats and oils, and USD 6.2 million in tea.

Compared to the same period in 2019, during the first eight months of 2020 exports increased by 4% for fruits and vegetables, 28.9% for animal and vegetable fats and oils, and 0.2% for tea.

In August 2020, non-oil sector exports amounted to USD 118.2 million. During the same period, the share of non-oil exports in total exports was 15.8%, which is 4.3% higher compared to the previous period. In August, food products accounted for 21.1% of non-oil exports, while non-food products accounted for 78.8%.

During August 2020, the largest non-oil exports were directed to Russia (USD 31.7 million), Switzerland (USD 31 million), Türkiye (USD 21.9 million), Georgia (USD 7.8 million), and Afghanistan (USD 2.2 million).

In the same month, gold ranked first in non-oil exports with USD 28 million, followed by cotton lint (USD 6 million) and unwrought unalloyed aluminum (USD 5.4 million).

The September issue of the “Export Review” also presents the ranking of leading non-state exporting companies in the non-oil sector. In the January–August ranking, the top ten companies include: “SOCAR Polymer” LLC, the Azerbaijan branch of “Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited,” “Land Logistic” LLC, “MKT Production Commercial” LLC, “Fruit Store” LLC, “Global Trade Group” LLC, “Sun Food” LLC, “Baku Steel Company,” “Azagroexport 2017” LLC, and “Fruit City Group” LLC. According to statistical data, these non-state companies accounted for 32.7% of non-oil exports.

Among state-owned enterprises involved in non-oil export operations, the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s “Marketing and Economic Operations Department” leads the list. It is followed by “AzerGold” CJSC, “Azeraluminium” LLC, “Azerenerji” JSC, “Azerpambig Agro-Industrial Complex” LLC, “Azerbaijan Airlines” CJSC, “AzerTütün Agro-Industrial Complex” LLC, “Azerbaijan Thermal Power Plant” LLC, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic State Energy Service, and the “Surakhani Machine-Building Plant” JSC. State-owned companies accounted for 31.2% of non-oil exports.

The “Export Review” also includes information on services exports. In January–August 2020, “Azercosmos” OJSC exported services worth USD 30.4 million (satellite telecommunications and optical satellite services) to 30 countries worldwide, representing an 8.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Revenue from service exports accounted for 90% of the company’s total income. In August 2020 alone, “Azercosmos” exported services worth USD 2.3 million to 19 countries. The main destinations during January–August 2020 were the USA, United Kingdom, France, Malaysia, and the UAE.

It was reported that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected Azerbaijan’s tourism sector as well, leading to a decline starting from March. As a result, in August 2020, transactions made by foreign citizens using bank cards in Azerbaijan amounted to AZN 25.6 million. During January–August 2020, such transactions totaled AZN 328.3 million.

The report also provides information on export orders received via the Azexport.az portal. In January–August 2020, export orders worth USD 429.4 million were received. In August alone, the value of export orders amounted to USD 54.9 million, a 4.2% increase compared to the same month of the previous year. From January 2017 to August 31, 2020 (44 months), the total value of export orders received from 141 countries via Azexport.az reached USD 2.014 billion.

It is also noted that in September 2020, non-oil exports facilitated through the “One-Stop Shop” Export Support Center amounted to USD 19 million. During January–September 2020, hundreds of entrepreneurs were issued export certificates, resulting in USD 133.7 million in non-oil exports.

The “Export Review” aims to raise awareness among entrepreneurs about exports, expand opportunities for local products in traditional and new markets, and accelerate integration into international markets.

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