Baku (AsiaNews) – For Azerbaijan, the results of the second Karabakh war are not measured solely in terms of political changes.
Taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh and the victory over Armenia, achieved five years ago, have opened access to mineral deposits that had been inaccessible for many years.
Today, the rapid growth in copper production and exports is already bringing in tangible economic benefits.
Only a few years ago, copper occupied a marginal place in Azerbaijan's exports. Traditionally, oil and natural gas were the main export products, and copper shipments were relatively small.
The situation changed significantly in the first half of 2026. According to the State Customs Committee, exports of copper ore and concentrate jumped from 8,200 to 62,000 tonnes from January to June, a 7.5-fold increase.
The value of supplies increased more than 11-fold, from US$ 12.3 million to US$ 135.9 million, and their share of the country's non-oil exports increased more than ninefold, from 0.79 per cent to 7.21 per cent.
The main reason was the start-up of the Demirli mine in Karabakh. It is one of the largest copper mining projects of Anglo Asian Mining, a British mining company that produces gold, copper, and other metals in Azerbaijan.
After Baku regained control of the territory, the company was able to begin developing Demirli. The commissioning of such a large deposit had an immediate impact on production and export volumes.
Until recently, Anglo Asian Mining was primarily known as a gold producer. In its financial statements, the company states its intention to gradually transition to a model in which copper will become a core business, with Demirli playing a key role.
In the first half of 2026, the British company's copper production increased more than sevenfold, from 1,188 to 8,840 tonnes compared to the same period the previous year.
The increase in production in Azerbaijan coincided with a period of sustained growth in global demand for copper.
Today, this metal is considered a key element in the development of modern energy since copper is widely used in the construction of power grids, electric vehicles, solar and wind power plants, and energy storage systems.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global demand for copper will increase by approximately one third by 2040.
It is premature to say that copper will become one of Azerbaijan's main exports, but the launch of the Demirli project has already significantly changed the composition of non-oil exports.
While copper ores and concentrates accounted for less than 1 per cent of these exports in the first half of last year, a year later their share exceeded 7 per cent.
If additional deposits come on stream in the coming years, their contribution to the development of the country's non-oil sector and exports could be even more significant.
