Unaccounted-for "black" metals

In the first quarter of 2013, production of iron and steel industry amounted to about 68 million manat. The growth of this sector of industry was 1.3%. In addition to the production of finished metal products (18.1 million manat) marked decline in production at the level of 49.2%. Experts believe that in Azerbaijan there is evasion of tax accounting in the production of ferrous metallurgy.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in January-March of this year, production of rebar in the country amounted to 57.6 thousand tons, which is 52.9% more than in the same period last year. Experts believe that the steel industry is one of the sectors of industry, where there are "dark" processes of the shadow economy. Economist and businessman Nazim Mamedov told Turan, that the market for the products are not considered in the main facilities located in Darnagul (Baku), where the product is given for bogus industry. Market control valve is located at the company's "Baku Steel Company", which controls and import of steel products in Azerbaijan.

According to the State Statistics Committee, in recent years, the highest rate of steel casting production in Azerbaijan was awarded in 2007 - 468 thousand tons. In subsequent years, the production volumes went down, and in 2009 production was only 150 tons. In 2010, production has doubled, and in 2011 amounted to 380 thousand tons.

It is noteworthy that the "Baku Steel Company" makes no secret of its capacity, which is 770 thousand tons per year. The company buys almost all ferrous metal scrap in Azerbaijan, sunken ships and dismantled industries. In addition, in 2012, according to the State Customs Committee to meet domestic needs were imported over 100 tons of scrap metal.

In 2011, imported 149 thousand tons of reinforcement declared value of $ 48.3 million, which is about 4 times higher than the figure for 2010.

 Nazim Mammadov said that the monopolization of the market of ferrous metals has led to the fact that the products of this industry for about 30% higher than the world price. It affects both investment activity and on the project cost. - 08B-