Azerbaijan: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 10 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Azerbaijan.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Azerbaijan in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Azerbaijan may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Azerbaijan →

On the sanctions lists

10 entries on the official lists name Azerbaijan — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	6	6	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	2	2	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—
US OFAC — Consolidated (Non-SDN) Lists	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

Switzerland (SECO) · Situation in Ukraine: 45 new designations
11 Aug 2026 · New listings

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Azerbaijan: logistics and trade

Transit hub of the Middle Corridor / energy exporter

Azerbaijan (ISO code: AZ) is located in the South Caucasus, bordering Russia to the north, Georgia and Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the east. The country is a presidential republic with stable state institutions and growing economic significance in the region. The climate ranges from subtropical by the Caspian Sea to continental inland, with hot summers and mild to cold winters. Economically, Azerbaijan is heavily reliant on oil and gas exports, complemented by agriculture, mining, machinery manufacturing, and services. Foreign trade focuses on energy exports to Europe and Asia, while the country is heavily dependent on foreign supplies for machinery, consumer goods, and technology imports. Azerbaijan plays a strategic transit role in the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, particularly through pipelines and the port of Baku. The national currency is the Azerbaijani Manat (AZN), which regulates domestic payments. The logistics infrastructure includes modern ports, road and railway connections that support the export of oil, gas, and industrial products. Its geographical location between Europe and Asia makes Azerbaijan an important hub for energy, trade, and regional transport routes.

Capital: Baku
Population: 10,300,000
Area: 86,600 km²
Currency: Azerbaijan Manat (AZN)
Continent: Asia
Region: South Caucasus / Caspian Region
Economic area: CIS Free Trade Area (CISFTA) / GUAM
Religions: Islam, Christianity, Judaism
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Rail · Road · Air · Pipeline

Current situation: Expansion of the port of Alat and the Alat Free Economic Zone; record volume on the Middle Corridor in 2024 (around 4,1 Mio. t in 11 months). WTO accession still under negotiation. Status: June 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Continental climate with hot summers; in winter, storms on the Caspian Sea and fog can temporarily affect ferry operations and cargo handling at the port of Alat.

Main cargo airports

Heydar Aliyev International AirportGYD
Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD) Baku: leading South Caucasus cargo hub, home of Silk Way West, 500,000+ tonnes in 2024, on the Middle Corridor.
Nakhchivan AirportNAJ
Nakhchivan (NAJ): passenger airport of Azerbaijan's exclave, flights to Baku and Istanbul. Belly cargo only; heavy freight routes via Baku (GYD).

Road corridors

Middle Corridor (TITR): Baku - Tbilisi - Turkey
North-South Corridor (INSTC): Russia - Azerbaijan - Iran
Baku - Alat - Iranian border (Astara)

Rail corridors

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK)
Azerbaijan Railways ADY: Baku - Boyuk Kasik (Georgia)
North-South railway Astara (INSTC)

Main trade lanes

Azerbaijan - Italy (crude oil)
Azerbaijan - Turkey
Azerbaijan - Russia
Azerbaijan - China (Middle Corridor transit)
Azerbaijan - Central Asia

Customs and import

Customs authority State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsi)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic customs clearance by the State Customs Committee under the single-window principle (bir pencere); low-risk consignments via the Green Corridor. Customs declaration within 15 days of arrival (Customs Code Art. 149).
Export customs system: Export clearance through the State Customs Committee in the single-window system. Energy products (crude oil, natural gas) dominate; dual-use and military goods are subject to export controls of the State Service for Export Control.
Import VAT: Value added tax (ƏDV) 18 percent on customs value plus customs duty plus excise where applicable. Import duty in three tiers: 0, 5 or 15 percent (since 2018). Excise duties on alcohol, tobacco, mineral oil and vehicles.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Preferential proofs of origin under the CIS Free Trade Area (CISFTA) and bilateral agreements; CT-1 certificate of origin. Azerbaijan is not a WTO member (observer only) and has no free trade agreement with the EU.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import controls for, among others, weapons, ammunition, narcotics, hazardous substances as well as plants and animals (quarantine). Licensing requirements for certain goods; excise goods regulated separately.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Transport document (B/L, CMR, rail waybill, AWB)
Import customs declaration (Single Window)
Certificate of origin (if preferential)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Transport document (B/L, CMR, AWB)
Export customs declaration
Certificate of origin (CT-1 / Form A)
Export control licence, if applicable

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium
Customs delays: Medium
Port congestion: Medium
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium to high
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Low to medium
E-commerce relevance: Medium

Trade

Top import partners

Russia Türkiye China Germany Italy

Top export partners

Italy Türkiye Russia

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Electronics
Food
Pharmaceuticals

Top export goods

Crude oil
Natural gas
Petrochemicals
Cotton
Fruit

Typical cargo

Crude oil and petroleum products (export)
Natural gas (pipeline)
Petrochemicals
Machinery and vehicles (import)
Food and pharmaceuticals
Transit containers (Middle Corridor)

Latest logistics news

Kazakhstan Significantly Expands Middle Corridor Between China and Europe11 Aug 2026
Kazakhstan is expanding its transport routes toward the Caspian Sea. The Middle Corridor is set to become faster and more efficient for freight movements between China and Europe.

Logistics questions

Which authority is responsible for customs in Azerbaijan?

The State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Dövlət Gömrük Komitəsi) is responsible. It handles imports and exports and operates under the single-window principle (bir pencere) with a Green Corridor for low-risk consignments.

What is the import VAT (MWST) rate in Azerbaijan?

The value added tax (ƏDV) is 18 percent. The tax base is the customs value plus import duty and, where applicable, excise. Alcohol, tobacco, mineral oil products and vehicles are also subject to additional excise duties.

Which import duties apply?

Since 2018 a simplified structure with three duty tiers applies: 0, 5 or 15 percent of the customs value, depending on the goods code. Rates were lowered to facilitate trade and raised for certain items to protect domestic production.

Is Azerbaijan a member of the WTO?

No. Azerbaijan has had observer status at the WTO since 1997 but is not a member. Accession negotiations are ongoing; a working group last met in 2024.

Which are the most important ports and airports?

The central seaport is the Baku International Sea Trade Port in Alat on the Caspian Sea, with an attached free trade zone. Air cargo runs mainly through Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD), the home base of the cargo airline Silk Way West.

What is the Middle Corridor and what role does Azerbaijan play?

The Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) is a multimodal route between China and Europe via Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. Azerbaijan is a central hub with the port of Alat and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.

Which documents are required for import?

Commonly required are the commercial invoice, packing list, the transport document (bill of lading, CMR, rail waybill or air waybill) and the electronic import customs declaration via the single window. For preferential treatment, a certificate of origin is required.

Which logistics risks should be considered?

Limited ferry and vessel capacity on the Caspian Sea can delay the Middle Corridor, especially during winter storms. The border with Armenia is closed, and regional tensions in the South Caucasus remain a planning factor.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗