Azerbaijan weakenas position in the vegetable market

In the first half of this year, Azerbaijani farmers exported from the country of various vegetables amounting  total of $ 72.6 million, by 8.6% less than in the comparable period in 2014. At the same time, imports of vegetables in value ($ 14 million) grew by 45%, the State Statistics Committee told Turan.

Over six months of this year were exported 36,034 tons of Azerbaijani potatoes, by 26.8% less than in the same period of last year. A kilogram of potatoes was registered  by farmers  at  $0.57, by  7 cents lower than last year. All the goods were delivered to the Russian market.

Seed potatoes and commodity  are imported mainly from the Netherlands - 41736 tons, Iran – 13,000 tonnes, and Germany - 6928 tons. Import is carried out also from Belarus (209 tons), Russia (3407 tons), Ukraine (1934 tons), Belgium (3,184 tons), Finland (226 tons), France (3,075 tons), Georgia (286 tons), Lithuania (3153 tons ) and Egypt (1046 tons).

On the Azerbaijani customs the imported potatoes was registered at $ 0.08 per 1 kg. Importers say that for each kilogram of potatoes in addition to the official taxes they pay $ 0.40 fees. Therefore, in the off-season potatoes are  sold on the market for $ 0,80-1,20 per kilogram. This year, Azerbaijan exported to Russia and Kazakhstan 53 578 tons of tomatoes (+ 6.3%) totaling $ 46.6 million. (+ 4.6%).

Import  of cucumber (9753 tons) in the first half of this year increased by 4 times. The entire volume of local production was aimed at satisfying domestic consumption.

In 2014, the production of many vegetables in Azerbaijan decreased. During the year it was made of potato - 819.300 tons (-17.5%), tomato - 481.400 tons (-3.9%), cucumber - 213.300 tons (-2.3% ) .-- 08B—