Italy has retained its position as the leading importer of Azerbaijani crude oil, even as export revenues from shipments to the country declined year-on-year in January 2026.

According to Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee, the country exported approximately 1.85 million tons of crude oil to Italy in January 2026, The Caspian Post reports.

These deliveries generated $861.65 million in revenue. While the physical volume of crude supplied to the Italian market rose by 9.5% compared to January 2025, the overall value of those exports fell by 7.6% over the same period.

Crude oil shipments to Italy accounted for 69.91% of Azerbaijan’s total oil exports in January, underlining Italy’s dominant role in Baku’s energy trade structure.

For comparison, in January 2025 Azerbaijan exported more than 2.64 million tons of crude oil and oil products derived from bituminous rocks. The total value of those exports reached nearly $1.24 billion, according to customs data from that period.

The latest figures also show that Azerbaijan’s total foreign trade turnover in January 2026 amounted to nearly $3.54 billion, reflecting the country’s continued integration into global markets despite fluctuations in commodity revenues.

Overall, the data confirms Italy’s status as the principal destination for Azerbaijani crude oil while highlighting year-on-year shifts in export volumes and earnings.