OREANDA-NEWS. October 18, 2010. Changes occurred again this September among the members of the trio of Azerbaijan’s trading partners that consisted of Italy, the United States and Israel following August of the year.

After a month absence France returned in the trio and held immediately the second position, and the U.S. ousted Israel from TOP 3.

The State Customs Committee (SCC) informs that for Jan-Sept 2010 Azerbaijan’s foreign trade turnover with the CIS counterparts totaled USD 2.8 bn or 14.055% of country’s overall foreign trade turnover (USD 20.2 bn) versus 16.15% in 2009 and 7.21% in 2008.

Over Jan-Sept 2010 Azerbaijan exported to the CIS countries commodities for USD 1.417 bn (9.05% of whole export) and imported for USD 1.4 bn (31.33%). As a result, Azerbaijan lost positive balance in trade with these countries, registered first time in March (USD 39.7 million).

Deficit of trade with the post-Soviet republics totaled USD 6.406 million following this September versus net surplus of USD 51.378 million by this September and USD 77.155 million in the first half of the year.

Export to the CIS countries included mainly mineral fuel, oil, petroleum products and bitumen materials (57.07%), ships and other sailing vessels (12.34%), animal and vegetable oils (9.27%), sugar and sugar products (5.93%), vegetables (2.58%).

Import consisted mainly of animal oils (14.08%), wares made of ferrous metals (10.59%), equipment and mechanisms (10.48%), ground transportation vehicles (9.69%), ferrous metals (7.26%).

Azerbaijan’s foreign trade turnover with non-CIS countries totaled USD 17.37 bn or 85.945% of country’s foreign trade turnover.

For Jan-Sept of the year export to non-CIS countries made up USD 14.25 bn (90.95% of total export), import USD 3.1 bn (68.67%) and the country had USD 9.87 bn of positive balance with them.

Export composed mainly of mineral fuel, oil and petroleum products, bitumen minerals (98.03%), ferrous metals (0.41%), precious and semiprecious metals and products made from them, bijouterie, ornamentals (0.4%), polymers and products made of them (0.26%), sugar and products from it (0.14%).

Import included mainly equipment and mechanical appliances (22.92% of whole import), ground transportation vehicles (9.88%), electric equipment and devices (8.93%), products from ferrous metals (8.53%), sugar and products from it (4.1%).

Over Jan-Sept 2010 Italy became Azerbaijan’s key trade partner on export (USD 4.99 bn or 31.86% of whole export). The Jan-Sept trio also includes France with USD 1.568 million (10.01%) and Israel with USD 1.376 bn (8.78%).

Then follow the USD 1.328 bn (8.48%), Indonesia USD 740.8 million (4.73%), Ukraine USD 608.3 million (3.88%), Malaysia USD 578.709 million (3.69%), Croatia USD 541.39 million (3.46%), Russia USD 527.03 million (3.36%).

Russia remained the leader on import operations with USD 776.508 million (17.09% of whole import). Then follow Turkey USD 522.3 million (11.49%), China USD 380.555 million (8.37%), Germany USD 362.207 million (7.97%), Ukraine USD 348.68 million (7.67%).

In 2009, the trio consisted of Italy, the United States and Russia and in 2008 - of Italy, the United States and Israel.