Kyrgyzstan has begun receiving its first shipments of oil products from Azerbaijan as Bishkek works to diversify fuel suppliers and reduce reliance on Russia. The country is also importing fuel from Turkmenistan, Belarus, Turkey and China.
Kanatbek Eshatov, president of the Kyrgyz Association of Oil Products Traders, said initial fuel shipments from several countries, including Azerbaijan, have started arriving in Kyrgyzstan. According to him, the move is aimed at spreading imports across multiple sources and reducing the risk of dependence on a single supplier.
Russia has historically been Kyrgyzstan’s main fuel supplier. Bishkek is now looking to broaden its import base to strengthen stability in the domestic market.
As part of the diversification drive, the first fuel shipments from China have also reached the country by rail. Eshatov noted that the diesel market remains stable, though certain shortages are still being observed in gasoline supplies.
Kyrgyzstan’s annual demand for oil products exceeds 1.5 million tons, making steady imports a key factor in meeting the country’s domestic consumption needs.
The arrival of Azerbaijani oil products in Kyrgyzstan marks an expansion of Azerbaijan’s export reach in Central Asia, while giving Bishkek an additional source of supply. The move also reflects Kyrgyzstan’s effort to build a more diversified fuel supply system by drawing in suppliers from the Caspian region and elsewhere.
Eshatov did not disclose the volume or value of the first batches shipped from Azerbaijan, nor did he say whether further deliveries have been agreed.
