ASSA-Irada,
6, May 2008

The share of oil in Azerbaijan's exports has exceeded 82 per cent, with 54 per cent of the volume made up by crude.

Exports of crude from the oil-rich South Caucasus republic have risen 80 per cent, while those of oil products more than doubled compared to the first quarter of 2007, the State Customs Committee said.

The exports of other commodities increased as well. The bulk of chemicals sold to other countries nearly doubled in January-March but the figure constitutes only 1.8 per cent of the country's overall exports.

Exports of beverages and alcoholic drinks decreased 20 per cent, while that of cotton - 65 per cent. The reduction is due to insignificant domestic output of these products, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

Azerbaijan's total exports made up $1.5 billion in Q1.

The statistics available suggests that entrepreneurs prefer imports to exports. Businessmen sold goods worth $180 million abroad, while imported goods worth six times more in the mentioned period.