By AZE.US
Car prices in Azerbaijan could increase by around 5% as demand returns to the market in the second half of September, according to an industry expert interviewed by ITV.
Prices currently remain broadly stable, while some official dealerships are offering discounts. However, market activity traditionally strengthens in September and October, as well as in May.
“If demand increases after mid-September, prices for both new and used vehicles could rise by approximately 5%,” the expert said.
The forecast follows recent research by Azerbaijan’s Chamber of Appraisers showing that vehicles have not become significantly cheaper. Although the market’s median price declined by about 5%, this was largely due to a growing share of older, lower-priced cars in listings.
When identical models and production years were compared, the actual decline was only 0.2%, indicating that prices were effectively unchanged.
A sharp contraction in imports could add pressure to the market. Azerbaijan imported 29,637 passenger vehicles worth approximately 929.4 million manats ($546.7 million) in the first half of 2026.
Compared with the same period last year, imports fell by 37.2% in volume and 36.8% in value. The average declared cost of an imported vehicle was approximately 31,400 manats ($18,400).
Buyer preferences are also changing. Despite concerns surrounding some Chinese brands, many customers now prefer new Chinese vehicles purchased from official distributors with warranties.
The alternatives available through unofficial channels may include used cars with high mileage or questionable technical histories.
The expert said supply and demand were gradually moving toward equilibrium and could become more closely balanced by early 2027.
New customs procedures may also reduce paperwork for some import operations. When goods remain under customs supervision and are transferred between vehicles within the jurisdiction of the same customs authority, only one customs declaration may be required.
The measure applies to cargo operations generally and should not be presented as a special concession exclusively for automobile imports.
AZE.US