BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
21. Azerbaijan’s economy continued to show growth
from January through August 2026. During the reporting period, the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to 87.7 billion
manat ($51.6 billion), indicating continued economic activity and
development of the real sector. This figure is 1.2% higher than in
the same period last year.


The non-oil and gas sector remained the main driver of the
economy’s value-added potential. The value of non-oil and gas GDP
amounted to 61.5 billion manat ($36.2 billion), up 2.1% compared to
the same period last year.


Within GDP, the total value of non-oil and gas industrial output
increased by 5.4% to 14.6 billion manat ($8.6 billion), the total
value of agricultural output rose by 2.6% to 10.1 billion manat
($5.9 billion), the total value of transport and warehousing
services grew by 8.7% to 10.9 billion manat ($6.4 billion), and the
total value of information and communication services increased by
10.7% to 2.7 billion manat ($1.6 billion).


Thus, the dynamics observed in the non-oil and gas sector cover
several areas: expansion of industrial production, growth in
agricultural value added, development of transport and logistics
capabilities, and expansion of information and communication
services.


In the mining sector, one of the key areas of the non-oil and
gas industry, the total value of output amounted to 26.9 billion
manat ($15.8 billion) from January through August this year. This
figure demonstrates the significant share the mining sector holds
in industrial production. The development of the sector facilitates
the more efficient use of the country's natural resources in
economic activity, strengthens the supply of raw materials to
industrial enterprises, and fosters the creation of new production
capabilities. Furthermore, closely integrating the raw material
base established in the mining industry with the manufacturing
sector is crucial for increasing value-added in the non-oil and gas
industry and strengthening economic diversification.


From January through August 2026, products worth 14.9 billion
manat ($8.8 billion) were manufactured and industrial services were
provided in the processing sector. The expansion of production in
the processing sector not only increases domestic production
capacity but also creates a basis for bringing finished products to
the domestic market and expanding export opportunities. In this
regard, converting the production volume generated in manufacturing
into trade turnover and access to foreign markets is important for
increasing value added in the non-oil and gas sector.


In the first 8 months of 2026, information and communication
services rose by 10.7% to 2.7 billion manat ($1.6 billion),
indicating the development of the services sector in the non-oil
and gas economy.







Agriculture is one of the key areas of the non-oil and gas
sector. From January through August 2026, agricultural output
increased by 2.6% to 10.1 billion manat ($5.9 billion), indicating
growth in the agricultural sector. The development of agriculture
is directly linked to manufacturing, food production, logistics,
and export opportunities. In other words, processing a larger share
of the value added created in agriculture domestically enables the
formation of longer and more sustainable value chains in the
non-oil and gas sector.


The 8.7% growth in transport and warehousing is also noteworthy
in this regard. During the reporting period, the sector’s total
value reached 10.9 billion manat ($6.4 billion), highlighting the
growing role of Azerbaijan’s production, trade, and transit
capabilities in economic growth.


The expansion of production in industry and agriculture requires
greater logistics capacity to bring products to domestic and
foreign markets. Alongside the expansion of economic activity
across various sectors, ensuring the sustainability of this growth
amid macroeconomic stability is also important. In this regard,
maintaining financial stability also plays an important role.


Another key indicator of economic activity is the country’s
foreign trade dynamics. In January-August this year, Azerbaijan
conducted $33.2 billion worth of trade operations with foreign
countries, up 3.5% compared to the same period last year. Exports
accounted for $21.8 billion of foreign trade turnover, while
imports amounted to $11.4 billion. Over the past year, exports
increased by 27.8%, while imports decreased by 24.1%. As a result,
foreign trade generated a positive balance of $10.4 billion, 5.2
times higher than a year earlier. In particular, faster growth in
exports than imports ensured a positive shift in the foreign trade
balance. Overall, the January-August 2026 figures show that exports
further strengthened their dominant position in Azerbaijan’s
foreign trade.


Thus, the results for January-August 2026 show that Azerbaijan’s
economy maintained its growth momentum, while the non-oil and gas
sector became one of the main drivers of economic activity.