Export growth is provided through Armenian brandy
In the period of January-September 2016 export volume from Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member countries comprised USD 274.1 million. As compared to the same period of the previous year, export from Armenia to EEU has grown by 55.2%. This information was provided by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database.
Main export direction is Russia, which shares more than 95% of total export volume from Armenia to EEU (USD 260.6 million). Our second partner regarding export is Belarus—3.1% (USD 8.5 million), and Kazakhstan is the third —1.7% (USD 4.7 million).
In the reporting period commodities amounting USD 246.4 thousand have been exported from Armenia to Kyrgyzstan, which is less than 0.1% of total volume of export from Armenia to EEU.
It should also be stated that export from Armenia to EEU has grown regarding all countries. Mostly export from Armenia to Belarus has grown by 78.6%. Export to Russia has grown by 54.6%, to Kyrgyzstan—53.6%, and to Kazakhstan—by 48%.
On account of what has export from Armenia to EEU member countries grown? One of the leaders of growth, as formerly stated, is tomato (in case of which there were doubts, that in fact, Turkish tomatoes are being exported to Russia, under the name of Armenian ones).
However, brandy has the most specific gravity. Judging from foreign trade, this year demand for Armenian brandy in EEU market has grown.
Thus, pursuant EEC data, in the period of January-September 2016 strong alcoholic beverages amounting USD 90 million have been imported from Armenia to EEU (foreign trade code 2208 is meant, in which mainly brandy is involved in case of Armenia).
By the way, whisky produced by “A and G” company is included in this group, and as it’s known, that whisky isn’t exported to EEU member countries.
Volumes of strong alcoholic beverages are measured by the so-called absolute liters (with 100% spirit content). For instance, if it’s stated that 1 absolute liter has been exported, it will be equivalent to about 2.5 liters of brandy, as alcohol content in it is 40%.
Thus, in the period of January-September 2016, 7 million 838.6 thousand absolute liters of strong alcoholic beverages have been exported to EEU with USD 89.9 million customs value. As compared to the same period of the previous year, volumes of strong alcoholic beverages have grown by 64.1% in kind, and by 58.5% in value terms.
Greater part of export—more than 7.5 million liters have been exported to Russia. As compared to January-September of the previous year, export of strong alcoholic beverages has grown by 64.4% in kind, and by 60.4% in value terms.
Export from Armenia to Belarus has grown by 44.4% in kind, and by 19.9% in value terms (export volumes—223.9 thousand liters, USD 3.7 million).
Throughout the first 9 months of ongoing year 55.8 thousand liters of strong alcoholic beverages have been exported from Armenia to Kazakhstan with USD 1.08 million customs value. In kind export volume has grown 2.6 times, and in value terms—by 72.8%. In the same period 4130 absolute liters of strong alcoholic beverages have been exported from Armenia to Kazakhstan with USD 48 thousand customs value.
Regarding import it should be stated that in the period of January-September 2016 import from EEU member countries to Armenia comprised USD 719.2 million. As compared to January-September of the previous year, import from EEU to Armenia has grown by 2.9%, from which: import from Russia has grown by 3.3%, thus, comprising USD 700.1 million.
Import from Kazakhstan to Armenia has grown 2.3 times, reaching USD 1.7 million. Import from Belarus has reduced by 14.2% and comprised USD 16.5 million.
There is no comparison with Kyrgyzstan due to small import volumes. In the period of January-September of ongoing year import from Kyrgyzstan to Armenia comprised USD 10 only.
By Babken Tunyan
