Azerbaijan increases food imports to a record level

Customs Committee data on butter exports do not align with the figures from the State Statistics Committee regarding cattle numbers and milk production in Azerbaijan. If domestic butter production and exports have increased significantly, this should be reflected in corresponding data on livestock growth and milk yields. However, Azerbaijan's State Statistics Committee provides entirely different numbers.

In Azerbaijan, the population has long suffered from a shortage of both drinking and irrigation water. Although the issue is frequently raised in the media, the problem remains unresolved.

In the quiet rice fields of Lankaran, where farmers wade through flooded paddies, the challenges of Azerbaijan’s rice industry become evident. Despite government efforts to boost domestic production, the country remains deeply reliant on foreign suppliers, with imports soaring to record levels in recent years.

According to the information published by the State Customs Committee, our calculations indicate that in 2024, compared to the previous year, the import value of feed products increased by 14.5%, including a 30.6% increase in the import of animal products.