Cotton thread exports climb while fibre shipments dip in Azerbaijan’s textile trade

Azerbaijan’s cotton industry experienced a notable increase in raw cotton production during the first four months of 2025, yet export figures reveal a contrasting downward trend.

According to figures by the State Statistics Committee and the State Customs Committee, between January and April 2025, Azerbaijan produced approximately 41,16 tons of raw cotton, marking a significant 28.3 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth underscores a resurgence in domestic cotton cultivation, reflecting intensified agricultural efforts and possibly favorable climatic conditions, Caliber.Az reports.

As of May 1, 2025, warehouse inventories held 38,5 tons of finished cotton products, indicating a substantial stockpile within the country.

However, cotton thread production painted a slightly different picture. During the reporting period, 5,3 tons of cotton thread were manufactured, representing a marginal decline of 0.9 per cent year-on-year. Finished thread products in storage totaled 4,9 tons as of the beginning of May.

On the export front, Azerbaijan faced a contraction in cotton fibre shipments. The country exported 42,7 tons of cotton fibre in the first four months of 2025, reflecting a 17.9 per cent decrease compared to January-April 2024. The total export value for cotton fibre dropped by 20.7 per cent, amounting to $62.37 million. Consequently, the share of cotton fibre exports relative to Azerbaijan’s total export volume fell to 0.71 per cent, down from 0.96 per cent in the same period last year.

Conversely, exports of cotton thread showed promising growth. A total of 2,9 tons of cotton thread were exported, marking a 12.3 per cent increase year-on-year. The monetary value of these exports rose by 5.3 per cent, reaching approximately $7.11 million.

By Vafa Guliyeva