Imports Down, Prices Up: What's Happening in the Market in H1 2026

The first half of 2026 has looked noticeably different from prior years in Azerbaijan's auto market: import volume has dropped sharply, while used-car prices have climbed at roughly the same pace. The numbers point to a sustained trend driven by several factors converging at once, not a short-lived blip.

What the numbers show

According to the State Customs Committee, Azerbaijan imported 33,772 vehicles worth $675.9 million between January and June 2026. That's a 35% drop in volume and a 30% drop in value compared to the same period last year. Passenger car imports fell even more sharply — from 47,199 down to 29,637, a 37.2% decline.

What's driving the decline

Several factors are working together:

• The hybrid VAT exemption ending — in effect since January 1, 2026, raising the cost of hybrid imports
• Higher excise on vehicles over 7 years old — a 1.5x multiplier for gasoline engines and 2x for diesel
• Shrinking re-export flow from Georgia — the region's main transit hub is weighing restrictions on older vehicle imports, tightening regional supply
• Global supply chain pressure — rising production costs are also pushing up new-vehicle prices

The result: a rising used-car market

According to market expert Elnar Rzayev, speaking to Report.az, used-car prices have climbed by 15-25% — with the most popular brands and models seeing the sharpest increases. The most affected segments include economy sedans, 2012-2018 used vehicles, and SUVs. The luxury segment has seen a somewhat gentler 10-15% rise.

What this means for you

As local supply shrinks and prices climb, buyers are largely left with two paths: wait out a rising local market, or import directly from US auctions like Copart and IAAI to get ahead of the increase. The second path is often the smarter one — but as prices rise across the board, the cost of getting a purchase wrong rises with them. A mistake that used to be a minor loss now carries real weight.

That's exactly why pulling a full VIN report before you bid, running the numbers through our customs calculator ahead of time, and verifying a vehicle's actual condition matter more in this market than they have in years.

Bottom line

The first half of 2026 sends a clear signal for Azerbaijan's auto market: imports are down, and local competition and prices are up. In this environment, making an informed decision — financially and time-wise — is worth more than it used to be.