Tariff Rates on Imports of Alcohol Not Revised

The government's decision to revise the import duties on a number of agricultural and food products and construction products does not apply to alcoholic products. Turan was told in the State Customs Committee that commented on a number of publications in which, among other goods, for which customs duties will be raised from November 1, spirits are marked wrongly.

On 22 commodity groups of foreign economic affairs (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and vinegar) tariff rates increased only for goods passing under code 220290 - drinks based on fruit and vegetable juices. In the first half of 2016 the volume of imports of these drinks (other waters containing added sugar or flavorings) amounted to 2 million 443 liters for a total of $ 1 million 725.3 thousand.

It is noteworthy that in the last 2 months the price of alcohol in Azerbaijan has been rising ahead of the average inflation index. In the trading network in Baku vodka has risen in price by an average of 10-15%, while cognac and whiskey have risen twofold.

Since January this year the Azerbaijani government intended to move to cashless payments for trade in all alcoholic beverages. However, despite the adoption of relevant legislation, it did not happen. All the experts agreed that "alcohol mafia" took over and did not allow the full legalization of the market.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in 2015 Azerbaijan produced 7.7 million liters of vodka, 1 million liters more than in 2014. In 2010, the volume of legal vodka production in Azerbaijan reached 8 million 850 thousand liters.

According to the State Customs Committee, 864.6 thousand liters of vodka was imported in 2015, which was declared at the Azerbaijani customs for $ 13 million 633.2 thousand. For the six months of this year 136.5 thousand liters of vodka was imported ($ 1.32 million). --08B-