The November 2018 issue of the “Export Review” by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) has been presented. According to this issue, non-oil sector exports reached USD 1.351 billion during January–October 2018. Compared to the same period in 2017, non-oil exports increased by USD 132 million, or 11 percent, in the first ten months of 2018. During this period, non-oil goods worth USD 467.1 million were exported to Russia, USD 293.8 million to Turkey, USD 114.4 million to Switzerland, USD 106.5 million to Georgia, and USD 38.4 million to Kazakhstan. Compared to the same period last year, non-oil exports to Russia rose by 10 percent, to Turkey by 21 percent, and to Kazakhstan by 48 percent, while exports to Switzerland decreased by 1 percent and to Georgia by 1.4 percent.

Among non-oil exports from January to October 2018, tomatoes ranked first at USD 149.9 million, followed by gold in unprocessed forms not intended for coin minting at USD 99.9 million. Polyethylene in primary forms with a specific gravity below 0.94 ranked third, at USD 68.5 million.

Overall, during January–October 2018, exports of fruits and vegetables totaled USD 405.5 million, plastics and products made from them USD 103.6 million, aluminum and products made from it USD 102.7 million, electricity USD 60 million, ferrous metals and products made from them USD 72.2 million, cotton fiber USD 64.5 million, chemical industry products USD 63.9 million, and cotton yarn USD 19 million. Compared to the same period in 2017, exports of cotton fiber increased 2.3 times, electricity exports by 62 percent, cotton yarn by 41 percent, plastics and related products by 28 percent, fruits and vegetables by 8 percent, aluminum and related products by 5 percent, and ferrous metals and related products by 5 percent.

In October 2018, non-oil sector exports amounted to USD 144 million. Russia led the list of main export destinations with USD 64.9 million, followed by Turkey (USD 18.2 million), Switzerland (USD 9.2 million), Georgia (USD 9.1 million), Ukraine (USD 7.3 million), and other countries.

Dates led the list of top exported non-oil products in October 2018 with USD 23 million. Shelled hazelnuts (USD 13.3 million) and apples (USD 7 million) ranked second and third, respectively.

The November issue of the “Export Review” also includes a ranking of key non-oil exporters. In January–October 2018, the top ten non-state non-oil exporting companies included the Azerbaijan branch of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited, MKT Production and Commerce LLC, Kapitan Fruits LLC, Baku Steel Company LLC, Azfruittrade LLC, Food Export Shamkir LLC, Gala Fruit-Vegetable Import-Export LLC, Sun Food LLC, Azerbaijan Sugar Production Union LLC, and Ram International Transport and Trade Ltd LLC.

Among state-owned companies involved in non-oil exports, the Marketing and Economic Operations Department of SOCAR led, followed by Det-al Aluminum LLC, Azerenergy JSC, Azergold CJSC, Azerbaijan Airlines JSC, SOCAR Methanol LLC, CTS-Agro LLC, Supply and Procurement of Food Products JSC, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic State Energy Service, and Surakhani Machine-Building Plant Subsidiary JSC.

The “Export Review” also highlights service exports. During January–October 2018, Azercosmos JSC exported services worth USD 22.4 million to 23 countries, including satellite telecommunications and optical satellite services. Revenue from service exports accounted for 88 percent of Azercosmos JSC’s total revenue. In October 2018 alone, Azercosmos exported services worth USD 5.7 million to 17 countries. Major destinations for these service exports during the first ten months of 2018 included France, Malaysia, the UAE, Germany, Georgia, and others.

Additionally, the “Export Review” notes that during January–October 2018, Azerbaijan received 2,420.4 thousand foreign visitors from 194 countries, a 6.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year. According to the State Border Service, 31.1 percent of visitors were from the Russian Federation, 20.2 percent from Georgia, 10.1 percent from Turkey, 8.9 percent from Iran, 3.2 percent from the UAE, 2.8 percent from Saudi Arabia, 2.6 percent from Iraq, 2.0 percent from Ukraine, 1.6 percent from Israel, 17.4 percent from other countries, and 0.1 percent stateless. Spending by foreign visitors via bank cards also increased, totaling AZN 1.119 billion in January–October 2018, up 28 percent (AZN 248 million) from the same period in 2017. In October 2018 alone, foreign visitors’ card transactions totaled AZN 117 million, a 57 percent increase compared to October 2017.

The November issue also provides information on export orders received through the Azexport.az portal. In October 2018, export orders totaling USD 23 million were registered, and the total for the first ten months reached USD 433 million. Compared to the same period in 2017, the value of orders increased by 10 percent. For context, between January 2017 and October 31, 2018 (22 months), export orders from 108 countries totaled USD 908 million.

The issue includes an update on the “Single Window” Export Support Center, which in November 2018 issued the required certificates to individuals and legal entities under the single-window principle. Exports documented through this center amounted to USD 11.8 million. Products certified were exported to Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Italy, Iran, Poland, China, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Moldova, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Korea, Israel, and Malaysia. Currently, 10 percent of the country’s non-oil exports are documented through the Single Window Export Support Center. The issue also notes an event organized by the center on “Financial Support in Export Operations.”

Additionally, the November issue covers export missions to Bulgaria and Germany, and the presentation of Azerbaijani wines at the Prowine China international wine exhibition in China, among other topics.

The “Export Review” aims to inform entrepreneurs about export opportunities, increase access to traditional and new markets, and accelerate integration into international markets.