NEWS BRIEFS
AZERBAIJAN: INDONESIA AND FRANCE BECOME BAKU’S TOP TRADE PARTNERS

Italy, Indonesia and France now rank as Azerbaijan’s leading trade
partners, dislodging the United States and Russia from their perch as
the energy-rich Caucasus country’s main export markets, the Azerbaijan
Business Center (ABC) reported on February 22.

Some 42.8 percent of Azerbaijan’s exports (worth an estimated $612
million) went to Italy in January 2010, while 9.7 percent and 8.4
percent were directed to Indonesia and France, respectively, ABC
reported, citing the State Customs Department of Azerbaijan.

Less than 8.2 percent of all exports went to the Commonwealth of
Independent States, led by Russia, which alone was Azerbaijan’s
second-largest export market in 2009.

Russia, however, remained the main source for goods exported to
Azerbaijan, accounting for 20.5 percent of all Azerbaijani imports, or
some $75 million.

Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products accounted for nearly 98
percent of Azerbaijan’s January exports.

Posted February 23, 2010 © Eurasianet