Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports rise 11.7% in first quarter

Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports rose 11.7% year-on-year in January-March 2026 to $862 million, the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication said in its April Export Review.

Food exports increased by 25.1% during the period to $281 million.

Sugar exports posted the strongest growth, rising 4.5 times from a year earlier. Exports of cotton yarn doubled, while exports of vegetable and animal fats and oils rose by 68.4%, cotton fibre by 43.5%, fruits and vegetables by 22.1%, aluminium and aluminium products by 20.4%, tea by 15.1%, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages by 4.3%.

Agricultural exports increased by 26.6% to $215.6 million, while agro-industrial exports rose by 27.4% to $88 million, the centre said.

Overall exports of agricultural and agro-industrial products grew by 26.8% to $303.7 million.

Gold was the top non-oil export item in the first quarter, at $95.3 million, followed by hazelnuts at $68.3 million and copper ore at $60.8 million.

In March, gold also led the list of non-oil exports, at $34.6 million. Among agricultural products, cotton fibre ranked first at $25.5 million, followed by tomatoes at $18.5 million.

N.Təbrizli