China enters Azerbaijan chicken meat market as imports diversify

Azerbaijan’s chicken meat imports showed a mixed trend in the first quarter of the year, declining overall in both value and volume, while Ukraine strengthened its position as the leading supplier and China entered the market for the first time with new shipments.

In January–March of this year, Azerbaijan imported 6,559 tons of chicken meat worth $10.64 million, the State Statistics Committee confirmed. This represents a 12% decrease in value and a 15% decrease in volume compared to the same period last year, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

During the reporting period, 5,227 tons of poultry products worth $8.3 million were imported from Ukraine. Compared to the previous year, import volumes increased by 46%, while the value rose by 40%.

Imports from Russia amounted to 583 tons worth $970,000, while Belarus supplied 363 tons worth $598,000, and Uzbekistan 147 tons worth $391,000. In addition, Azerbaijan imported 219 tons of chicken meat worth $359,000 from China, with no supplies recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In 2025, Ukraine accounted for 45% of the 26,522 tons of chicken meat imported into Azerbaijan, while Russia accounted for 25%, according to official data.

By Vafa Guliyeva