BAKU, July 21 — In a move aimed at streamlining regional logistics and boosting Azerbaijan’s role as a key transit hub, Prime Minister Ali Asadov has signed a decision exempting certain foreign freight vehicles from paying the national road tax.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the exemption applies under specific transit conditions involving combined rail and road transport.
Under the newly approved regulation, foreign trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers are exempt from road tax when:
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Cargo is delivered by rail to designated stations within Azerbaijan, then reloaded onto foreign road transport for direct transit through the nearest customs checkpoint to another country;
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Or, conversely, when foreign freight vehicles enter Azerbaijan through a border checkpoint to deliver goods to the nearest railway station for onward shipment.
However, all such vehicles — whether loaded or empty — must still undergo mandatory customs declaration in line with Azerbaijan’s Customs Code.
The measure is expected to simplify multimodal freight transfers, reduce logistical costs, and attract more international carriers to use Azerbaijan as a transit corridor, particularly along the Middle Corridor linking Asia to Europe.
Analysts say this aligns with Azerbaijan’s long-term vision to become a regional transport hub amid global shifts in trade routes. The decision also complements recent infrastructure investments, including upgrades to rail networks and customs digitalization.
