Azerbaijan increases spending on food imports by 19% in Q1

BAKU. April 17 (Interfax) - Imports of food to Azerbaijan in Q1 2023 increased 18.9% compared to the same period last year to $583 million, the State Customs Committee told Interfax.

In the structure of food imports, the main volumes were of wheat, with 356,100 tonnes (an increase of 1.9 times) for $108.8 million; corn, with 22,700 tonnes (an increase of 3.3%) for $8.4 million; rice, with 22,000 tonnes (an increase of 37.1%) for $19.3 million; tea, with 3,300 tonnes (an increase of 7%) for $17.7 million, fruits and vegetables with 128,300 tonnes (a decrease of 2.9%) for $83.1 million; meat, with 11,400 tonnes (an increase of 24.1%) for $19.3 million, and oils of vegetable and animal origin, with 29,100 tonnes (a decline of 28.1%) for $41.8 million.

Imports of butter to Azerbaijan reached 4,500 tonnes (down 9.1%) for $25.6 million.

Food accounted for 14.5% of all imports to Azerbaijan in the first quarter of 2023 (in value terms).