Azerbaijan: Ag exports have increased by 73% in 2017

Aydin Aliyev, Head of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan has announced that the export volume…

Aydin Aliyev, Head of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan has announced that the export volume of Azerbaijani agricultural products has increased by 73 percent in the first quarter of 2017.

He said that the agricultural products were exported to Russia, as well as other countries, such as Ukraine and Kazakhstan. At the same time, there was a decrease in the import of agricultural products to Azerbaijan in the first quarter of 2017, he added.

“Compared to the same period of last year, the import of fruits and vegetables to Azerbaijan decreased by 17 percent due to increased customs duties imposed on the import of agricultural products,” Aliyev said.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Economy Minister Sahil Babayev said that over the last year, Azerbaijan exported to Russia about 20-25 percent of tomatoes grown in the country.

"Over 517,000 tons of tomatoes were grown in Azerbaijan last year, and more than 100,000 tons were exported to Russia, that is, about 20-25 percent of the production was exported to Russia," Babayev said.