The April 2018 issue of the “Export Review” prepared by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) has been presented. The review notes that non-oil exports amounted to USD 356.4 million in the first quarter of 2018. Compared to the same period in 2017, non-oil exports increased by 35% in January–March 2018. During this period, non-oil goods exports totaled USD 98.7 million to Russia, USD 97.6 million to Turkey, USD 33.8 million to Switzerland, USD 31.8 million to Georgia, and USD 11.9 million to China.

According to data from the State Statistical Committee, among non-oil products exported in Q1 2018, electricity ranked first (USD 33.9 million), gold second (USD 30.9 million), and primary-form polyethylene with a specific gravity of less than 0.94 third (USD 26.3 million).

Overall, exports in the first quarter included fruits and vegetables worth USD 80.7 million, electricity USD 33.9 million, plastics and plastic products USD 32.2 million, aluminum and aluminum products USD 30.9 million, ferrous metals and products thereof USD 15.8 million, and chemical industry products USD 12.4 million.

Compared to the same period of 2017, Q1 2018 saw electricity exports increase 8.6 times, fruit and vegetable exports rise by 45.7%, ferrous metals and related products by 34.8%, chemical products by 29.5%, cotton yarn by 24.8%, tea by 12.9%, and aluminum products by 4%.

According to the State Statistical Committee, non-oil exports totaled USD 115 million in March 2018. Turkey was the largest destination for non-oil exports that month (USD 42.3 million). Electricity ranked first among exported non-oil products (USD 13.6 million), followed by tomatoes (USD 9.3 million) and shelled forest hazelnuts (USD 8.3 million).

The March issue of the “Export Review” also presents a ranking of leading non-oil exporters. In Q1 2018, the top ten non-state non-oil exporting companies included the Azerbaijan representative office of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited, MKT Production Commercial LLC, Agrodoctor LLC, Baku Steel Company LLC, Metalchilar-2 LLC, Ram International Transport and Trade LTD LLC, CTS-Agro LLC, Sun Food LLC, the Azerbaijan branch of Qlaf Drilling Supply FZE, and Azerbaijan Sugar Production Association LLC.

Among state-owned companies involved in non-oil export operations, the SOCAR Marketing and Economic Operations Department led the list. Other entities included Azerenergy OJSC, Det-al Aluminum LLC, AzerGold CJSC, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, SOCAR Methanol LLC, Food Products Procurement and Supply OJSC, Gas Export Department, Caspian Shipping Company CJSC, and Surakhani Machine-Building Plant Subsidiary OJSC.

The “Export Review” also covers service exports. It reports that in Q1 2018, Azercosmos OJSC exported satellite and telecommunications services to 18 countries, generating USD 3.4 million in revenue during the first three months of the year. Revenues from service exports accounted for 86% of Azercosmos’s total income. Key destination countries included France, the UAE, Germany, Georgia, China, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and others.

The review further notes that in Q1 2018, 629.4 thousand foreign nationals and stateless persons from 151 countries visited Azerbaijan—an increase of 12.4% year-on-year. In March 2018, transactions made by foreign visitors using bank cards amounted to AZN 105.8 million, up 16% compared to March 2017. Overall, in January–March 2018, the value of such transactions rose by 18% year-on-year to AZN 296.7 million.

The “Export Review” also provides information on export orders received via the Azexport.az portal. In Q1 2018, export orders totaling USD 185.6 million were received, including USD 66.5 million in March alone. From January 2017 to March 31, 2018, export orders from 90 countries submitted through the portal totaled USD 660.6 million.

An analysis by product shows that in March, the highest export orders were for wine, eggs, pomegranate juice, apples, hazelnut kernels, confectionery products, tomatoes, wheat bran, pasta, tea, saffron, cottonseed oil, medical gauze, decorative flowers, canned meat, engine oil, construction materials, and other goods.

The April issue also reports on the first-ever issuance of Free Sale Certificates in Azerbaijan, the services provided to entrepreneurs by the “One-Stop Shop” Export Support Center, research conducted on honey exports, and other related topics.

The primary objective of the “Export Review” is to raise entrepreneurs’ awareness of export opportunities, expand access for local products to traditional and new markets, and accelerate integration into international markets.

The “Export Review” is available in the Reviews section of www.iqtisadiislahat.org.