Record of “Armenian” Tomatoes
Frankly speaking, this article was to initially touch upon Armenia’s foreign trade, and in particular, our trade relations with Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). However, quick glance at statistical data was enough to understand that the ‘heroes’ of the article will become tomatoes.
Thus, in the period of January-April 2016 export from Armenia comprised USD 514.5 million, which exceeds previous year’s index by 22.2%. As already mentioned, this figure of export for the first 4 months is a record.
From which, export to the EEU member countries comprised USD 100.4 million. This is even less from the 1/5 of total export. However, as compared to the same period of previous year export to EEU member countries has been doubled.
Greater part of USD 100.4 million was shared with Russia (2 times more growth). Export volume from Armenia to Belarus grew 3.1 times, however, the volume is still less—USD 2.2 million. Export to Kazakhstan decreased by 60% and in the period of January-April comprised USD 617 thousand. We exported to Kyrgyzstan even less commodities and service comprising USD 120.9 thousand, which is higher from the previous year’s index by 2.4 times.
These data are not news and were published by RA National Statistical Service on May 31. In that period it was interesting to know: on account of which production did export grow? However, data weren’t accessible yet. National Statistical Service, as already known, doesn’t publish foreign trade data upon the country and production. It’s provided by customs service, however, the freshest data refers 2015.
However, such data are released by Eurasian Economic Commission. And from these very data we attempted to understand what we export to EEU member countries and on account of what this growth was recorded.
It turned out, that strong alcoholic beverages are most exported to EEU member countries from Armenia. It’s mentioned in foreign trade classification with the code 2208 and in our case we need to understand, first and foremost, brandy.
According to the data of Eurasian Economic Commission in the period of January-April 2016 about 2.7 million liters of strong alcoholic drinks have been exported to EEU member countries with total USD 29.6 million customs value. As compared to the same index of previous year, export of this group of production grew by 2.4 times in kind and 2.3 times in value.
Export of cheese and curds has grown two times. In the period of January-April 2016 1930 tons of cheese and curds has been exported to EEU member countries from Armenia, with about customs value of USD 6.2 million. Moreover, here mainly cheese should be taken into consideration, as quantity of exported curds is not significant.
However, champion of growth are tomatoes, which are introduced by the code 0702. 20366 tons of tomatoes have been exported from Armenia to EEU member countries with the customs value of more than USD 14 million.
However, charm of tomatoes is observed, when we compare figures with previous periods. As we may see, it’s mentioned in this Table (which is taken from the database of Eurasian Economic Commission) how export of tomatoes has grown, as compared to the same period of previous year. Why? As in the same period of previous year that figure was rather small.
To be more clear what difference is being touched upon? It’s worth stating 2 data: in 2014 total 217.7 tons of tomatoes have been exported from Armenia, and 1254 tons in 2015. This is the figure not to EEU member countries, but that of total export. And now in the period of 4 months more than 20 thousand tons have been exported to EEU member countries. That is, only in the period of four months 16 times more tomatoes have been exported to EEU member countries than in the period of the whole last year to all countries.
This astronomical growth is strange, which doesn’t allow believing in lawfulness of figures. And in this regard news spread by “evil tongues,” that a big quantity of tomatoes is being imported to Armenia from Turkey, labels are changed with Armenian ones and under the name of Armenian tomatoes Turkish tomatoes are exported to Russia.
It was also stated that finally Russia understood that, and after tomatoes have undergone expertise, it was stated that it contains lots of pesticides. Then, surely, RA Agriculture Ministry’s State Food Security Service denied this information claiming that Russia didn’t return Turkish tomatoes to Armenia. As for import of tomatoes State Food Security Service informed that this year 120 tons of tomatoes have been imported to Armenia from Turkey. 120 tons and 20366 tons are incomparable.
In short, official statistics convinces that growing tomatoes recorded a split early his year. By the way, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has also mentioned about the deed of Armenian tomatoes. During the meeting with Serzh Sargsyan, RA president, on June 20 attached attention to this issue, saying, “During our meeting I’d like to mention that we are recording trade turnover growth despite all the difficulties existent in local and international economies. It should be stated that provision of Armenian agricultural goods to the Russian market has grown, which makes us glad. I hope, on the whole, this tendency will be strengthened both in the development of trade turnover and from the standpoint of commodities sensitive to us.”
Yes, Serzh Sargsyan at that time didn’t allow to thoroughly touch upon that issue, reminding that the meeting is mainly devoted to Nagorno Karabakh. Perhaps, for this very reason many have the impression that it referred cucumbers.
However, as it’s said, time puts everything in its place. Now we know that large volumes of cheese and cucumbers are being exported to Russia. Thus, our strategic allies may eat bread-cheese-tomato after importing strong alcoholic drink into their bodies.
By Babken Tunyan
