We wanted to get to know the Aminol brand better, which was established in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park (opened by a decree of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev) and has started exporting to many countries. Alco LLC Production Manager Emel Kuşku shared with us the company's establishment and future goals.

Aminol oils, of Azerbaijani origin, are increasingly making a name for themselves in the sector. Let's hear about Aminol from you.

Our facility is located in the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park, which was established by a decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Since this is a free zone, our company is exempt from income tax for 7 years, from customs duties during the import of equipment, and from many other taxes.

In a period when Azerbaijan's industry is modernizing, and transportation vehicles and technological machinery are being renewed, there is a great need for high-quality engine and industrial oils. To meet this emerging demand, our facility cooperates with the world's leading additive and base oil producers. We procure the additives used in our mineral oils from the world's largest additive companies such as Lubrizol, Eni, Evonik, and Oleon.

Our colleagues working at the facility received long-term training from German and Italian experts. Thanks to our highly educated and experienced staff, the engineering of the factory and the production of equipment were carried out by the German company Fluid Solutions GmbH. The oils we produce are packaged using automatic filling equipment procured from OCME, one of the world's best in this sector.

What is the production capacity of the facility? Which products do you manufacture here?

The annual production capacity of our facility is 30,000 tons. The main products manufactured in our factory are automotive and industrial oils. The industrial oils segment includes oils used in heavy and light industry machinery, marine oils, hydraulic oils, and compressor oils. Our products, manufactured with international approvals, meet the standards to be used by all automobile brands.

To which countries do you export from this factory? Could you also tell us about your export figures?

Our factory started exporting a short while ago. Currently, we have an average monthly export of 500 tons. We aim to increase this figure to 1000 tons per month by December 2018.

Our main export markets are European countries, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, and African countries. Currently, our primary export goal is to export a portion of the produced goods to Turkey.

Does being a mineral oil producer in Azerbaijan, a country with a significant global position in oil production, bring any advantages or disadvantages? To what extent does your geographical location affect your position in the sector?

Of course, being an oil country is a great advantage for a mineral oil producer. For some products, by blending local base oil with imported base oil, we can obtain both high-quality products and offer them at a reasonable price. Our geographical location is very convenient for exporting to neighboring countries. Especially the recently opened Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line provides economic advantages and convenience for exporting to Turkey.

What are your future plans?

We plan to continue our future work in two directions. Firstly, we will continue our sales with reasonable prices, high quality, and delivery of products to the customer's doorstep. Secondly, the capacity of our facility will be increased, our production in compliance with the highest standards will continue, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) approvals will be obtained.