Baku, August 24, 2025 — Azerbaijan’s reliance on imported dairy fats has grown this year, with butter imports alone surpassing $113 million in just seven months, according to fresh data from the State Customs Committee.
Between January and July, Azerbaijan imported 16,633 tons of butter and milk fats, up 3.6% year-on-year, with a customs value of $113.6 million — a sharp 33.2% increase in spending. Imports of these products now account for 0.83% of the country’s total trade, slightly higher than last year’s 0.79%.
The surge comes against the backdrop of falling domestic production. State Statistics Committee figures show that during the same period:
Butter production dropped 6.4% to 15,568 tons.
Vegetable oil output fell 10.4% to 22,493 tons.
Margarine production declined 8.7% to 27,319 tons.
By August 1, stocks stood at just 198 tons of butter nationwide, compared with over 3,000 tons of margarine and vegetable oils.
Imports of other fats and oils also showed mixed trends. Azerbaijan purchased 88,589 tons of vegetable and animal fats worth $137.1 million, marking an 11.7% decline in volume but a 14.4% jump in cost, reflecting global price hikes.
At the same time, exports remained modest: 10,569 tons of fats and oils worth $14.1 million, down 11.1% in value despite an 8% increase in volume.
Analysts say the numbers underscore a growing dependency on foreign dairy fats and oils, even as domestic output continues to shrink. Rising import bills risk putting further pressure on consumer prices in Azerbaijan’s food market.
