Foreign trade turnover decreased by 9.2%

In the first eight months of this year, the volume of foreign trade turnover amounted to about $ 21 billion, which is 9.2% less than in the comparable period of 2013. Foreign trade surplus was $ 9.7 billion.

From the beginning, Azerbaijan had trade relations with 139 countries of the world. According to the data promulgated by the State Customs Committee (SCC) on September 16, the volume of exports from Azerbaijan ($ 15 351 million) decreased by 3.7%. Crude oil exports ($ 13.1 billion) decreased by 2.2%, natural gas (225 million) - 57%. Exports of petroleum products with the refilled aircraft of foreign airlines in Azerbaijan amounted to $ 867 million, which is 4.5% more than in the comparable period of 2013.

The hydrocarbon feedstock and its products in the export structure of the country, last year amounted to 92.65%.

The volume of imports of goods amounted to $ 5,613.5 million, a decrease of 21.3%. Approximately $ 0.5 billion decreased supply of vehicles, ferrous metals supplies decreased $ 230 million and timber supplies decreased $ 138 million. 

Independent experts say that in many cases the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and a number of countries does not correspond to the data of the customs authorities of the contracting parties. Recent example of this was the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. According to him, the first seven months of this year, trade between the two countries amounted to $ 2.2 billion, while the official statistics of Azerbaijan claims about the level of these bonds in the amount of $ 1 billion.

It is noteworthy that despite the decline in the volume of imports in the amount of $ 1.5 billion, SCC is still coping with the implementation of the monthly plans for the customs duties to the state budget. From the beginning of 2014, it has collected over 1 billion, which is 113.2 million more than in January-August 2013. --08D--