Azerbaijan sends first petrol shipment to Armenia via Georgia

Azerbaijan has sent a shipment of petrol to Armenia via Georgia for the first time, marking an unprecedented instance of direct fuel trade between the two countries. Azerbaijani media outlet APA reported that 22 rail wagons loaded with AI-95 petrol produced by SOCAR departed Azerbaijan on December 18 and are en route to Armenia through Georgian territory.

The shipment comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Armenia and Azerbaijan following talks in Washington in August, as both sides continue discussions aimed at concluding a broader peace agreement.

The Azerbaijani government has not issued an official statement confirming the shipment. Armenian officials, however, have publicly acknowledged the delivery. According to OC Media, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed during a press briefing that the fuel shipment had begun and welcomed the development. He stated that although the transaction is being carried out between private companies, the political conditions enabling such trade were created by the stabilisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Pashinyan also noted that agreements had been reached at the political level.

Pashinyan said there were unresolved issues related to Georgian transit tariffs and expressed hope that they would be addressed. He added that if such obstacles persist, businesses would logically seek alternative routes for imports and exports.

Separately, Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan told RFE/RL that the shipment comprises around 1,300 tonnes of petrol and is expected to arrive in Armenia in the coming days. He declined to disclose the name of the importing company but said that Armenian and Azerbaijani firms had negotiated the terms of the deal directly. According to Papoyan, the imported fuel meets high technical and quality standards.

APA reported that the shipment aligns with the broader peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan and cited an agreement reached on November 28 in Gabala between Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan. The meeting took place as part of talks between the two countries’ border delimitation commissions and was the first such meeting held inside either country.

According to APA, the petrol is being sold at international market prices and the transaction is described as purely commercial in nature. The outlet also referred to a reported commitment by the Georgian authorities earlier in December to allow a one-time, tariff-free transit of Azerbaijani petrol to Armenia, although Georgian officials have not publicly detailed the terms.

The transit issue has drawn attention in recent days. Azerbaijani media outlets, including Minval, previously reported that Azerbaijani cargo was facing high transit tariffs in Georgia. Armenian state media Armenpress later cited Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who said Georgia takes into account the interests of both Azerbaijan and Armenia and expects negotiations to produce solutions acceptable to all three countries.