BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. SOCAR Trading is
exploring opportunities to expand its operations into Africa and
South Asia as it looks beyond its traditional markets, a senior
company executive said Thursday, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.


Togrul Kocharli, executive director of the Global Business
Development Department at SOCAR Trading, made the remarks during
the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank business forum in
Baku.


Kocharli said SOCAR initially grew by expanding its presence
across the Black Sea region but now sees its next phase of
large-scale growth in new international markets.


"The company has already invested more than $20 billion in the
Turkish economy and holds strong positions across nearly all
segments of Georgia's energy sector," he said. "There is also
significant potential along the western coast of the Black Sea,
where SOCAR is present but not yet as active."


He said those markets include Romania, Albania, Bulgaria and
Greece. SOCAR already operates gas stations and terminals in
Romania, while its Albanian subsidiary is developing the country's
first natural gas supply project to the city of Korça.


Although those projects are expected to support additional
growth, Kocharli said they are unlikely to significantly alter the
company's overall scale.


Instead, he said, SOCAR Trading is focusing on opportunities in
Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as in Pakistan, Bangladesh and
India.







Kocharli also highlighted the importance of price hedging for
trading companies, noting that it requires maintaining substantial
funds with financial partners.


"During periods of sharp price volatility, such as in 2020, 2022
and 2026, many companies encountered serious challenges," he said.
"Building relationships with institutions such as the Black Sea
Trade and Development Bank is one way to address those risks."


SOCAR Trading currently works with more than 40 banks and
maintains trade and structured finance facilities worth billions of
dollars, he said.


Kocharli added that the credit facility previously approved by
the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank has been expanded. While
the facility was initially announced at $50 million, it has
increased to $70 million as of 2026.


Despite working with dozens of financial institutions and
securing billions of dollars in financing, Kocharli said each
banking relationship remains strategically important.


"Every bank has its own approach to risk management and
geographic focus," he said. "That is why the relationship we are
building with the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank is so
important to SOCAR Trading's continued international
expansion."