The Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication Center’s (CAERC) “Export Review” for February 2020 has been presented. In January 2020, the country’s exports reached USD 2.1 billion, representing an increase of USD 851 million, or 66.5%, compared to the same period in 2019. During this period, non-oil sector exports amounted to USD 141 million. Compared to the same period in 2019, non-oil sector exports in January 2020 increased by USD 3.4 million, or 2.5%.

Among the non-oil sector products exported in January 2020, unprocessed gold (not used for coin minting) led with USD 16.3 million. Tomatoes ranked second with USD 13.2 million, and shelled hazelnuts third with USD 11.2 million.

In January 2020, non-oil exports to Russia amounted to USD 48.2 million, to Turkey USD 33.1 million, to Switzerland USD 17 million, to Georgia USD 8.5 million, and to China USD 5.9 million.

Compared to the same period in 2019, non-oil exports increased in 2020 as follows: 4% to Russia, 31% to Turkey, 73% to Switzerland, and 2.1 times to China. At the same time, the share of exports in the non-oil sector was predominantly to Russia (34.3%), Turkey (23.5%), Switzerland (12.1%), Georgia (6%), and China (4.2%).

Additionally, in 2020, dates, cotton fiber (unprocessed), electricity, primary polypropylene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with a specific gravity of 0.94 or higher, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a specific gravity below 0.94 stood out in non-oil exports. Overall, in January 2020:

• Fruit and vegetable exports: USD 42 million

• Plastics and plastic products: USD 15.6 million

• Aluminum and aluminum products: USD 9 million

• Cotton fiber: USD 10.7 million

• Chemical industry products: USD 9 million

• Electricity: USD 7.7 million

• Ferrous metals and products: USD 3.7 million

• Cotton yarn: USD 2.9 million

Compared to 2019, in January 2020, exports of cotton yarn increased 3.4 times, chemical industry products 34%, plastics and plastic products 33%, aluminum and aluminum products 30%, and ferrous metals and products 16%.

CAERC’s “Export Review” also includes rankings of both private and state-owned exporters for the non-oil sector in January 2020.

The top ten private exporters in January 2020 were: Socar Polymer LLC, the Azerbaijani branch of Azerbaijan International Mining Company Limited, MKT Istehsalat Kommersiya LLC, Land Logistic LLC, Natural Fruit LLC, P-Aqro LLC, Baku Steel Company, Fresh Fruits Group LLC, Mingachevir Textile LLC, and Atef Companies Group LLC.

The leading state-owned entity in non-oil sector exports was SOCAR’s “Marketing and Economic Operations Department,” followed by Azergold OJSC, Azeraluminum LLC, Azerenergy JSC, Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, Azerpambig Agrarian Industrial Complex LLC, ASK Glass LLC, and Baku Oil Machine-Building Plant JSC.

The “Export Review” also provides statistics on service exports. In January 2020, Azercosmos OJSC exported services worth USD 1.8 million (satellite telecommunications and optical satellite services) to 20 countries. Revenue from these services accounted for 79% of Azercosmos’s total income. The main countries for service exports were the UK, France, UAE, Germany, Georgia, and others.

According to the review, in January 2020, Azerbaijan received 226.2 thousand foreign and non-citizen visitors from 136 countries, an 18.1% increase compared to January 2019. Transactions made using bank cards by foreign visitors amounted to AZN 85.2 million.

The review reported that USD 42.1 million worth of export orders were registered on the Azexport.az portal in January 2020. The top five countries for orders were Russia (15.3%), Saudi Arabia (9%), Turkey (8.1%), India (7.2%), and France (7.2%).

The most requested products on Azexport.az in January included cotton, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, tobacco, wine, tea, confectionery, cosmetics, fertilizers, dates, hazelnuts, furniture sets, construction materials, and pomegranate juice. From January 2017 to January 31, 2020 (37 months), export orders from 141 countries through Azexport.az totaled USD 1.6269 billion.

The “Export Review” also includes information on the “Single Window” Export Support Center, which provided required certificates to individuals and legal entities under a single-window principle in January 2020. Exports conducted through the center amounted to USD 8.1 million. Products certified by the center were exported to 21 countries, including Switzerland (60%), Georgia (14%), Russia (13%), Kazakhstan (4%), Turkey (2%), the UK (2%), and others (5%) such as Ukraine, Czech Republic, Belgium, Belarus, Spain, Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, China, Oman, Israel, Germany, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Compared to February 2019, exports increased by USD 2.2 million.

The January issue of “Export Review” also reported on the launch of the “Pay Ring” digital payment system, Azerbaijani companies’ participation in “International Green Week 2020,” and other matters.

The purpose of “Export Review” is to raise awareness among entrepreneurs, expand opportunities for local goods in traditional and new markets, and accelerate integration into international markets.

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