Azerbaijan: Iṣẹ́ ọ̀dúnrún pọ̀ sí i ní ìlọ́po mẹ́fà láti ọdún 1992, síbẹ̀ àwọn ohun tí wọ́n kó wọlé dé 67,202 tọ́ọ̀nù ní oṣù mẹ́rin

Azerbaijan harvested 156,040 tonnes of potatoes in 1992, according to FAOSTAT data published by Our World in Data. The yield was 8.3 tonnes per hectare. In 2024 the same data show 954,005 tonnes at 21.0 tonnes per hectare.

Output rose about six times over this period. By our calculation, the harvested area grew from about 18,900 hectares to about 45,500 hectares. The series peaked at 1.07 million tonnes in 2022. It then fell in 2023 and again in 2024.

Where potatoes are grown

Potatoes are grown mainly in the mountain districts of Gadabay, Dashkasan and Tovuz and in Jalilabad in the south, according to the national outlet Azernews. The outlet reported sown areas of 59,300 hectares in 2018 and 56,900 hectares in 2019.

Exports rise, mostly to Russia

Azerbaijan exported 70,830 tonnes of potatoes worth USD 28.1 million in January to July 2025, according to the State Statistics Committee. This was 47% more by volume than a year earlier. Russia took 59,376 tonnes.

In January to July 2026 exports rose again, to 77,400 tonnes worth USD 29.7 million. This was 9.2% more by volume, according to the State Customs Committee data reported by the news agency Report.az.

Imports stay large

The country also imports many potatoes. In January to April 2026 it bought 67,202 tonnes, excluding seed potatoes, worth USD 24.6 million, according to Report.az. The volume was 19% lower than a year earlier.

The supplier mix changed sharply. These were the main sources:

• Iran: 24,548 tonnes, 14 times more than a year earlier
• Türkiye: 23,696 tonnes, down 51%
• Georgia: 8,227 tonnes, down 56%
• Russia: 3,987 tonnes
• Belarus: 3,184 tonnes

In May 2026 the agriculture minister Majnun Mammadov said the country still faces challenges in potato production, as well as in meat, milk and wheat.

Idi ti o ṣe pataki

Azerbaijan is a two-way potato market. It sells potatoes mainly to Russia. At the same time, it buys large volumes early in the year. The data suggest that domestic stocks do not cover the spring months.

For exporters in Iran, Türkiye and Georgia, the market is large but volatile. For investors, storage that extends the domestic season could replace part of the spring imports.

Photo: A view of Gadabay district, a potato-growing area of Azerbaijan (illustrative). Sefer azeri / Wikimedia Commons, CC0