Import of Turkish production continues its rapid growth
The stir around Azerbaijani apples is gradually fading. If any production isn’t banned and is competitive regarding price-quality ratio, it’s the same, it’ll appear in the country’s market despite what the relations with the producing country are.
Turkey is the best example, trade turnover with which grows year after year despite lack of official relations. Armenia-Turkey trade turnover started growing yet from mid-2000s and from USD 40 million per year reached a peak index—around USD 270 million.
After it trade turnover has both grown and decreased, however, on average we performed trade amounting USD 220-225 million per year with Turkey.
Import of Turkish goods is almost entirely meant (on average goods amounting USD 1 million per year have been exported from Armenia). In 2014 Armenia-Turkey trade turnover reached USD 233.8 million. In 2016 the index sharply dropped to USD 138.4 million.
However, from 2016 growth temp started to restore. 646 names of goods have been imported from Turkey in 2016 with USD 163.4 million customs value. In 2015 635 names of items have been imported with USD 136.9 million customs value, i.e. both the assortment and total value have recorded growth.
Data issued by the National Statistical Service of Armenia for the first quarter of 2017 edify that the temp of import of Turkish products is rather quickly restored this year. Thus, in January-March 2017 Armenia-Turkey trade turnover volume comprised USD 45.3 million, which comprises 3.6% of Armenia’s total trade turnover. Compared with the previous year’s same period trade turnover with this country has grown by 86.2%.
From which: export volume from Armenia to Turkey comprised just USD 261.6 thousand, and from Turkey to Armenia (per country of origin)—USD 45.09 million. By its share Turkey is the third in Armenia’s import structure (5.6%) and it only concedes Russia and China. This seems strange on account of Armenia-Turkey relations (or their absence), however, on the other hand, it’s also regular, as Turkey is able to propose goods, which are competitive and have demand in Armenia.
Recently customs service of State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia issued data of Armenia’s foreign trade for 2016 by product-country dimension. As already mentioned, in 2016 646names of products have been imported from Turkey to Armenia, i.e. import structure is rather diversified.
Chemical production—detergents are imported to Armenia from Turkey the most. 2974 tons have been imported in 2017 with USD 6.7 million customs value. The next is women’s clothing (jackets, jumpers and etc.). Compared with 2015 import of this production has grown by 56%, thus, comprising USD 5.4 million. Volumes of import of wallpapers have been quadrupled, reaching USD 5.3 million. Volumes of import of knitted products (vests and etc.) have tripled, reaching USD 5.2 million. Of course, this growth may partially be conditioned by improvement of customs clearance procedure (i.e. clothes don’t enter Armenia under another cheaper product), however, essence of the issue—structure of Turkish import doesn’t change from that.
Touching upon hidden threats of Azerbaijani apples, the 5th in the list should also be attached attention to—fresh or dried citruses. Around 7 thousand tons of fruits with USD 4.65 million have been imported in 2016. Who can say that it’s less risky from the perspective of consumers’ health than the Azerbaijani apple? Or the very detergents (soap and etc.)—can’t they intoxicate us through them if intended?
Of course, they can. Everyone realizes this. However, they continue consuming Turkish various products for the simple reason that there is no more beneficial alternative to it for the time being. Moreover, local alternative, which is a much more important issue.
By Babken Tunyan
