Azerbaijan sees sharp decline in sea cargo transportation

Sea freight transportation in Azerbaijan dropped significantly in January–April 2026, according to data from the State Customs Committee cited by Trend.

During the reporting period, 296.3 thousand tonnes of cargo worth $642.7 million were transported by sea.

Compared to the same period in 2025, this represents a 3.1-fold decrease in volume and a 27.7% decline in value.

Exports by sea transport amounted to around 41 thousand tonnes worth $28.3 million, showing a 20.4% increase in physical volume and a 55% rise in value year-on-year.

In contrast, imports declined sharply to 255.3 thousand tonnes worth $614.4 million, reflecting a 3.5-fold drop in volume and a 29.4% decrease in value.

Overall, Azerbaijan transported 18.72 million tonnes of cargo worth $17.4 billion across all transport modes in January–April 2026. This represents a 2.9% increase in value but a 4.4% decrease in physical volume compared to the previous year.