Emin Mammadov: Azerbaijan begins exporting carpets to US and EU member states

In 2023, Azerkhalcha OJSC produced 2,725 square meters of carpets, 22.5 percent of which was exported, the chairman of the company's board Emin Mammadov, told Report.

The chairman noted that the export of carpets last year increased by 29 percent compared to 2022 and amounted to 612 square meters: "Currently, Azerbaijan exports carpets to the United States and the member states of European Union. Our carpets are mainly supplied to countries such as the US, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Latvia."

Taking about the sale of Azerbaijani carpets on foreign platforms, Mammadov added that the country's carpets are popular on Shopify. However, sales on Amazon have not started yet because the terms are complicated.

"This platform requires huge amount of payments before selling. After the increase in sales in Shopify, we will move to Amazon," he said.

Mammadov emphasized that the carpet is a branded product: "The product is sold more through the company's social networks."

According to Mammadov, due to the demand for Azerbaijan's silk carpets, these carpets are successfully sold: "Last year, we started weaving silk carpets based on traditional carpets."

Mammadov also pointed out that Azerkhalcha OJSC is slowly making a profit after the difficulties in 2016-2021: "The company cooperates closely with the German designer Jan Kath, who is internationally known and famous for his unique blend of traditional and modern styles of carpet production, and who is included in the list of the 100 best designers in the world according to the Architectural digest magazine. The modern Azer Pulse carpet collection, made by the designer on the basis of traditional Azerbaijani carpets and woven in the workshops of Azerkhalcha, is currently sold in Yan Kath carpet "showrooms" in different parts of the world.

He said that in 2023, the exhibitions of genuine handmade Azerbaijani carpets were organized in a number of places, including the headquarters of the Council of Europe, the Azerbaijan Cultural Center operating in Strasbourg, France, the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Vienna, Washington, the Azerbaijan Embassy in Serbia during the Azerbaijani Culture Days, the Windsor Royal Equestrian Show, and the well-known Liepaja city museum in Latvia, at Turkish House in New York, at the Azerbaijani Cultural Center operating in Berlin, as well as at the Frison Horta Foundation operating in Brussels, in the exhibition hall of the Royal Carpet Factory of Spain.

"On May 15, 2024, it is planned to organize an exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets at the National Museum in Riga. We will present both our traditional and modern carpets there," Mammadov said.