First Azerbaijani fuel shipment reaches Armenia by rail, signalling new ties

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the arrival of the first rail shipment of Azerbaijani petrol on Friday, calling the delivery — the first such transfer between the two countries in decades — a sign that “peace has now become a reality”.

Officials on both sides have described as a concrete step towards normalising relations between the long-time rivals.

The freight train, made up of 22 tanker cars, delivered around 1,300 tonnes of high-octane gasoline via the Azerbaijan–Georgia–Armenia railway.

Armenia’s Economy Minister, Gevorg Papoyan, said the delivery was a commercial transaction and could mark the first trade deal between the two countries since peace efforts gathered pace.

The shipment began on 18 December and consists of AI-95 petrol produced by Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR.

Azerbaijani officials said the export demonstrates the country’s readiness to engage in mutually beneficial trade, while Armenian representatives described it as a practical contribution to energy security and economic stability.

The fuel delivery follows an agreement reached on 28 November in Gabala, north-west Azerbaijan, where Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev met his Armenian counterpart, Mher Grigoryan.

Talks focused on confidence-building measures and reviving economic links that had been severed by decades of conflict and closed borders.

Both governments have highlighted the symbolic importance of rail transport, which had been suspended for years due to hostilities. Restoring rail connectivity is seen as a foundation for rebuilding broader transport and trade links across the region.

Analysts say the move could have implications beyond fuel supplies. Reopening trade routes and establishing reliable commercial ties may strengthen regional integration, encourage further cooperation and create momentum for additional confidence-building steps.

In the longer term, observers argue that such initiatives could pave the way for expanded trade across the South Caucasus, reconnecting Armenia, Azerbaijan and neighbouring states through revived transport and energy corridors.

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