On September 10, 2025, Azerbaijan quietly resumed crude oil exports to India, ending a 10-month hiatus that had left a noticeable gap in trade flows between the two countries. According to figures published by Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee and reported widely by regional outlets, the August shipment totaled 1,747.07 tons of crude oil, valued at $781,520. While this might sound substantial at first blush, it’s a mere sliver compared to previous years—589 times less in volume and 827 times less in value than the same period last year, as noted by the State Customs Committee and cited in Report.az.
The resumption marks a cautious but notable step for Azerbaijan’s energy sector, which has been recalibrating its export strategies in a world of shifting markets and evolving geopolitical landscapes. The country’s overall oil export figures, however, remain robust. From January through August 2025, Azerbaijan exported a staggering 15,924,752.22 tons of crude oil and petroleum products derived from bituminous rocks. The total value of these exports reached $8,396,005,890, forming the backbone of the nation’s foreign trade, which itself amounted to $32.12 billion for the period. Of this, $17.065 billion came from exports and $15.053 billion from imports, according to the State Customs Committee’s latest report.
But oil isn’t the only story. Natural gas has become an increasingly important pillar for Azerbaijan’s export economy. In the first eight months of 2025, natural gas accounted for 35.14% of Azerbaijan’s total exports—a significant jump from the 29.92% share recorded during the same period in 2024. This uptick reflects both rising production and expanding international contracts, particularly with European partners. In 2024, Azerbaijan exported a total of 25.77 billion cubic meters of natural gas, up by 3.2% from 2023. The value of these gas exports was $8.4 billion, though this figure actually represented a 38.5% decline due to global price fluctuations and changing market dynamics, as detailed in the customs statistics.
The mechanics of Azerbaijan’s gas trade are complex, involving a web of pipelines and long-term agreements. The bulk of Azerbaijani gas reaches Turkey through the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP). Georgia, a key regional neighbor, also receives gas via the SCP and the Gazimagomed-Gazakh pipeline. In a significant development that underscores Azerbaijan’s growing role as a regional energy hub, the country began exporting gas to Syria on August 2, 2025, with the first shipments—transiting through Turkey—amounting to 3.4 million cubic meters per day. There are plans afoot to ramp this up to 6 million cubic meters daily, according to Report.az and corroborated by the State Customs Committee.
Europe remains a critical market for Azerbaijani gas, and the list of partner countries has grown to include 12 nations: Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Germany, and Ukraine. Some of these, like Italy, Greece, and Bulgaria, have locked in long-term supply agreements with fixed volumes. Germany, for its part, inked a ten-year contract with Azerbaijan’s national energy company SEFE, paving the way for annual deliveries to gradually rise to 15 terawatt-hours—a volume roughly equivalent to 1.5 billion cubic meters. Other European partners maintain more flexible arrangements, with no strict quotas on annual purchases, as outlined in the customs data published on September 16, 2025.
Turning back to oil, Turkey continues to be a significant, if fluctuating, customer. In the first eight months of 2025, Azerbaijan’s crude oil exports to Turkey totaled 65,361.01 tons, generating $30,279,230 in revenue. While still a notable sum, this figure represents a sharp contraction—a 4.8-fold decrease in volume and a 5.7-fold drop in revenue compared to the same period in 2024. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan has been candid about these shifts, emphasizing that the 65,361.01 tons sent to Turkey accounted for only 0.41% of Azerbaijan’s total crude oil exports during the period. The country’s broader export picture, however, remains dominated by oil, with nearly 16 million tons shipped abroad between January and August 2025.
What’s driving these swings in export volumes and revenues? Industry analysts point to a combination of global price volatility, shifting demand patterns, and the emergence of new markets. The resumption of oil exports to India, albeit at a much-reduced scale, could signal a tentative re-engagement with South Asian buyers. But the numbers suggest that Azerbaijan is hedging its bets, strengthening ties with Europe and the Middle East while keeping an eye on the ever-competitive Asian market.
The gas sector, meanwhile, is riding a wave of strategic expansion. The recent start of exports to Syria marks a new chapter in Azerbaijan’s regional outreach, and the country’s growing list of European partners underscores its ambition to be a key player in the continent’s energy security. The customs committee’s data, based on post-sale declarations rather than pipeline flow, offers a granular look at how these deals are being executed in practice.
It’s worth noting that the structure of Azerbaijan’s export contracts varies widely. Some, like those with Italy and Greece, are built around fixed volumes and long-term commitments. Others, especially with newer partners or those in more volatile markets, are designed for flexibility, allowing both sides to adjust to changing circumstances. The ten-year deal with Germany’s SEFE is particularly noteworthy, as it reflects both Azerbaijan’s capacity for large-scale production and Europe’s appetite for diversified energy sources.
For Azerbaijan, the challenge going forward will be to maintain this delicate balance—leveraging its vast oil and gas reserves to secure stable revenues, while adapting to the unpredictable tides of global energy demand. The country’s ability to pivot between markets, forge new partnerships, and respond to shifting economic realities will be crucial as it seeks to sustain growth and maintain its position as a regional energy powerhouse.
As the world’s energy landscape continues to evolve, Azerbaijan’s recent moves—resuming oil shipments to India, expanding gas exports to Syria, and deepening ties with Europe—offer a revealing snapshot of a nation in transition. The data released on September 16, 2025, paints a picture of both resilience and adaptation, as Azerbaijan navigates the complex currents of the global energy market.
With eyes on both East and West, Azerbaijan is charting a course that blends tradition and innovation, ensuring its place at the crossroads of the world’s energy future.
