German Wallpaper Four Times Cheaper than Toilet Paper

In the first nine months of this year Azerbaijan in terms of value imported 4,770.3 tons of wallpaper and similar wall coverings, totaling $ 3,638,600, according to the State Customs Committee.

A ton of wall covering was declared at the Azerbaijani customs at an average of $ 762.7.

Analysis of customs data shows that tapestry imported from Germany was declared 4 times cheaper ($ 926.8 per 1 ton) than even toilet paper ($ 3,734 / t). Since the beginning of the year there has been imported 12.3 tons of German wallpaper. For tax purposes, it was declared at a total of $ 11,400.

  In order to evade taxes the imported goods were declared at low prices. For example, Belarus reports on exports to Azerbaijan of 267 tons of wallpapers (+ 3.8%) in Q1-Q3 this year. During this period, the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan recorded imports of 221.4 tons of wallpaper from Belarusian producers, or 45.6 tons less. A notable fact is that the Belarusian wallpaper was declared by the importers for $ 601.2 $ / t, while the exporters in Minsk recorded $ 4,258.8 per ton. In the annualized view the selling price even dropped: a year earlier Azerbaijani entrepreneurs paid $ 35.8 more for Belarusian wallpaper.

According to the National Statistics Committee of Belarus, the average export price of wallpaper and other wall coverings into the CIS countries in 2012-2013 was, respectively, $ 2,730 and $ 2,677 per ton.

The most popular in Azerbaijan is Ukrainian brand wallpaper. In January-September, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, 3,019.3 tons of this wall covering was purchased in the country. Ukrainian wallpaper at the Azerbaijani customs is "quoted" a little higher ($ 613.7 / t) than the Belarusian commodity, but cheaper than Russian wallpaper ($ 827.6 / t). In January-September the Azerbaijani customs recorded 825.5 tons of wallpaper under the stamp Made in Russia.

Corruption at the Azerbaijan customs is confirmed also by the comparative analysis of data on imports of wallpaper in Georgia. This neighboring country, unlike ours, is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and has an obligation to ensure the free movement of goods. Over three quarters of the year, Georgia, which, like Azerbaijan, provides the need for wall coverings by imports, purchased abroad this product in the amount of $ 11,275,500 or equal to three times more.

Armenia (also a member of the WTO) in 2013, bought 716.6 tons of wall coverings and every ton of goods passed through the border at an average price of $ 5,045 / ton. This is 6.8 times higher than indicated in the official documents of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan (739.8 $ / ton).

Note that Italian wallpaper in order to attract the customs taxes is issued at the border at $ 882.1 per 1 ton, while Belgian wallpaper - at 7,900 USD, Czech wallpaper – at 6,000 USD, and Turkish wallpaper - at 2,520 USD. This sharp contrast is a testament not only to the quality characteristics of foreign brands of wallpaper, but also, perhaps, to the dedication of individual importers who do not go on about the customs and declare the goods not at false, but at reasonable prices. -08A-