Page 37 - Caucasus Outlook 2024

year. The depreciation of the ruble in Russia also affected the price of construction materials imported from this country to Azerbaijan. For example, the price of wooden materials decreased by 17.1-17.5% compared to October 2022. During the year, this indicator was 11.3%. Compared to previous years, the absence of any obstacles to the import of construction materials from neighbouring countries, the growth of local production to compensate for the shortage of materials during the period of restrictions, and the increase in production capacity are the main reasons for the above-mentioned price reduction.
Although the price of fittings decreased by 1.2% compared to October last year, it increased by 2.4% compared to the beginning of this year. The serious decrease in the prices of low-density fiberboard attracted attention – although there was a 32.1-38.2% decrease compared to October 2022, this figure is between 13.6-13.7% compared to the beginning of 2023. Roof coverings decreased by size in the range of 4-10%, and since the beginning of the year, these numbers show both an increase and a decrease (1.2-4.3%) according to the type.
3.3.6 Major Sectors & Companies
In January-November 2023, Azerbaijan's agricultural production reached AZN11.571bn, marking a 3.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022, as reported by the State Committee on Statistics.
The sector saw livestock farming generating AZN5.729bn and crop production contributing AZN5.843bn. Specifically, livestock production grew by 3.3%, while crop production rose by 2.8%. During this period, the country produced 538,200 tonnes of meat (up 3.1%), 2.062mn tonnes of milk (up 1.3%), 2.001bn eggs (up 9.9%), 15100 tonnes of wool (down 3%), and 357 tonnes of silkworm cocoon (up 4.6%).
As per the latest data, Azerbaijan's agricultural harvest for the year is nearing completion. By December 2023, the farms had harvested 3.223mn tonnes of grains, including corn (up 2.9%), 995,900 tonnes of potatoes (down 5.4%), 1.813mn tonnes of vegetables (up 0.1%), 438,200 tonnes of melons (down 6.5%), 1.249mn tonnes of fruits and berries (up 0.1%), 222,900 tonnes of grapes (up 5.3%), 1.124mn tonnes of green tea leaves (up 12.3%), 29,200 tonnes of sunflower (up 1.3%), 213,500 tonnes of sugar beets (up 4.8%), 5,300 tonnes of tobacco (up 22.3%), and 262,600 tonnes of cotton (down 12.2%).
Preparations for the 2024 harvest are currently underway. For the upcoming autumn sowing, 1.040mn hectares have been ploughed. Fields spanning 830,100 hectares have been sown for the next year’s grain harvest, including 489,500 hectares for wheat, 340,400 hectares for barley, and 200 hectares for rye.
Exports of agricultural and agro-industrial products from Azerbaijan in
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