Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the country must be "ten times stronger" than Armenia "every day," explaining this by the need to maintain military superiority even after the initialing of a peace agreement between the two countries. He outlined his position on October 2 at the 8th Congress of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party in Baku.
Despite the absence of diplomatic relations and an unfinished peace process, trade between Azerbaijan and Armenia continues to grow. In the first six months of 2026, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $17.1 million to its neighbor. These figures come from Azerbaijan's State Statistical Committee.
The bulk of these shipments consists of petroleum products—specifically gasoline and diesel fuel. Exports began in late 2025, when a consignment of Azerbaijani fuel arrived in Armenia by rail via Georgia for the first time in decades.
Meanwhile, shipments in the opposite direction remain virtually non-existent. From January to June, indirect imports from Armenia to Azerbaijan totaled just $960; in June, according to the agency, no goods from Armenia entered the country at all.
Overall, Azerbaijan's foreign trade volume reached $24.7 billion in the first half of the year, a 1.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Exports rose by 26.7% to $16.3 billion, while imports fell by 27.6% to $8.3 billion. As a result, the country's foreign trade surplus nearly sextupled compared to the previous year's figure, reaching $7.98 billion.