Azerbaijan resumes RON-92 gasoline imports from 3 countries

In the first half of 2022, Azerbaijan imported 150,800 tons of RON-92 motor gasoline worth $173.4 million, up 73 times in value and 30.2 times in quantity.

Report informs, citing the State Statistics Committee, that the country imported 109,200 tons of gasoline worth $125.600 million from Russia, 36,600 tons of gasoline worth $41.700 million from Turkmenistan, 3,500 tons of gasoline worth $4 million from Kazakhstan, and 1,500 tons of gasoline worth $2 million from Romania during the reporting period.

Deliveries from Russia and Turkmenistan resumed after a year and nine months and from Romania after four years and eleven months. Azerbaijan purchased RON-92 gasoline from Kazakhstan for the first time in 11 years (official statistics on foreign trade in open access since 2011).

RON-92 gasoline is produced at the Heydar Aliyev Oil Refinery of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). However, several plant facilities are temporarily suspended once a year for repair and foundation work. Although the gasoline produced at the plant is pre-supplied, it may not be enough to meet the country's gasoline demand. Therefore, that type of gasoline is purchased from abroad. In this case, RON-92 is temporarily exempted from the customs duty, and the excise rate is reduced. So, from February 1 to June 1 of this year, the customs duty per 1000 liters of RON-92 gasoline imported to Azerbaijan will be reduced from 15% to 0%, and the excise tax rate will be reduced from 200 manats ($117.7) to 1 manat ($0.58) per ton.