Azerbaijan's Energy Exports Surge Amid Global Instability

Azerbaijan's energy sector is expanding rapidly, with the country now capable of processing up to 30 million tonnes of petroleum products per year. This figure includes both domestic refining and overseas facilities acquired or established by state-owned SOCAR. According to President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is already receiving requests for oil product supplies from various countries, demonstrating the growing demand for its energy exports.

The expansion of SOCAR's refining infrastructure abroad has allowed it to operate not only in production but also at subsequent stages of the energy value chain. In Turkey, the STAR refinery has been operating since 2018, linking crude oil refining with petrochemical production. In Italy, SOCAR acquired a 99.82% stake in Italiana Petroli, giving it access to storage, logistics, and the end-user market.

The country's energy strategy is designed to reduce dependence on single countries or production facilities, allowing for more flexible responses to changes in demand and logistics. Azerbaijan's exports have been increasing, with a total of 14.678 million tonnes of crude oil and oil products worth $9.282 billion exported between January and August 2026.