BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 17. Azerbaijan exported $4.882 billion worth of 14.428 billion cubic meters of natural gas in gaseous form in January-July this year, according to the State Customs Committee.
The value of natural gas exports decreased by $386.7 million, or 7.3%, compared with the same period last year, while the volume increased by 18.019 million tons, or 0.1%, the committee said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group, President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan currently exports natural gas to 16 countries.
"Today, Azerbaijan ranks first in terms of the geographic coverage of pipeline gas supplies. We transport natural gas to 16 countries. Their number is increasing year by year and will continue to grow. Oil supplies cover more countries, and this benefits all producers, transit countries and consumers.
"Thus, this is the result of teamwork and is truly unique in terms of the complexity of project implementation, financing, terrain and the various political obstacles we have faced," the President said.
Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said during a ministerial plenary session titled "International Cooperation for a Sustainable and Diversified Energy Future," held as part of Baku Energy Week, that Azerbaijan accounted for 8.1% of total pipeline gas imports by the European Union last year.
He said Azerbaijan's strategic importance today is determined not by the volume of energy it produces, but by how effectively it can connect regions and markets.
"Azerbaijan exports oil to more than 20 countries, while the number of countries buying Azerbaijani natural gas has reached 16, placing our country among the world leaders in terms of the geographic reach of pipeline gas exports," the minister said.
Shahbazov noted that Azerbaijan accounted for 8.1% of the European Union's pipeline gas imports last year.
"Last year and during the first four months of this year, Azerbaijan exported 16.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe, 12.8 billion cubic meters to Türkiye, 3.3 billion cubic meters to Georgia and 800 million cubic meters to Syria," he added.
One thing to double-check: the source says natural gas export volume rose by 18.019 million tons (0.1%), which doesn't appear consistent with the stated 14.428 billion cubic meters figure. If this is for publication, I'd verify that number against the original State Customs Committee data rather than silently correcting it.
