The grape yield in Azerbaijan grows

According to the SSC, this year  147.600  thousand tons of grapes  have been collected, what is by 600 tons more than  for  1st December, 2013. This year the price for grapes was high, and the buyers could not enjoy a great choice - an average of 1.5 manats per kilogram.

Azerbaijan has grown a nightingale, and wine grapes. The winery enterprises ("Aqro-Azərinvest", "AZGRANATA", "Vinagro", "CASPİAN COAST WINERY & VINEYARDS" etc.)  have about 4.800  hectares of vineyards, of which 3.8 ha  are for fruits. This represents about 30% of the country's vineyards. In 2013, in addition to  grapes purchased from private individuals,  these farms used 29.200 tons of own crop. Today Azerbaijan  grows mostly fertile grape varieties. If in 2008-2009, yields per hectare averaged 74 centner, in 2013 this figure reached 91 centner.

According to the State Customs Committee, over the  first nine months of this year Azerbaijan exported 453.3 tons of grapes in the amount of $ 342.900. Last year Azerbaijani winegrowers took out of the country 1 179.8 tons of grapes. From abroad in the off-season has been purchased more than 1.400  tons of grapes. Azerbaijan imports  large amount of dried grapes. In 2013 the purchase of sultanas totaled 1,542.6 tons ($805.3 thousand.)

Over three quarters imports amounted to 343.6 tons ($ 181.100.)

During the anti-alcohol campaign in 1985, the area under vines in Azerbaijan decreased from 267.800 to 181.400 hectares. The trend  of logging of vineyards  continued in the period of agrarian reforms and privatization winery in 1996-1998. As a result, the area of vineyards dropped to 20.500 hectares.

During the first 11 months of this year, Azerbaijan produced 937.700 decalitre of wine, which is  by 38.2% more than over  the same period of 2013. --08B--