Who and how exported more than $ 20 million worth of gold or gold dust from Armenia to Turkey?
June this year, there was a large scale export from Armenia to Turkey. And it is for one product only: more than $ 20 million worth of gold or gold dust was exported.
Who conducted that export, and how it succeeded after years of hostile attitude of the Turkish authorities, can only be guessed.
The fact is that such a large export from Armenia to Turkey had never been conducted before. Not because there was no such opportunity, but because the Turkish authorities did not allow it.
And now suddenly they decided to take such a “friendly” attempt.
It is known that Armenia and Turkey do not have official relations with each other. But even without those relations, trade ties have worked, although mainly in one direction, in the form of imports from Turkey to Armenia. Annually, they amounted up to $ 280 million. The export did not exceed 2-3 million. And, out of a clear sky, this year an export of $ 20 million has taken place at once. 10 times more than the whole year exports of previous years.
Whether we like it or not, we have to accept that such a thing does not happen just like that. What is hidden behind this will probably become clear in the nearest future?
It is also not known whether it will have a continuation in the nearest future or it will end up with that one deal.
According to official data, the export from Armenia to Turkey in the first half of the year amounted to $ 20.5 million. The main part of the export took place in the first 6 months of the year.
Until then the exports from Armenia to Turkey were almost none. It was $ 9000 in January, $ 9300 in February, $ 28 300 in March, $155 100 in April, and $ 117 000 in May.
In those 5 months, a total of only $ 318 700 worth of various goods were exported to Turkey. The range of exported products is very limited. We are talking about only one and a half dozen, the export of some of which is so small that it is difficult to even be considered as an export.
Exports to Turkey increased dramatically in June, amounting to $ 20 189 000 at once. $ 20 167 000 out of which were gold or gold dust.
353.1 kg of gold or gold dust were exported from Armenia to Turkey. Judging by the figures declared, the customs value of 1 gram was $ 5.7.
Even after this deal, the export to Turkey had such a sharp increase.
How come that Turkey is so generous towards Armenia, it should be looked for behind the policy implemented by today’s authorities within the framework of their peace agenda. This deal is probably a part of that agenda, with the aim of promoting the false claims that opening the borders and establishing trade relations with Turkey is within the interests of our own economy.
There is no such thing, and Armenia cannot gain advantages over Turkey in economic relations. Maybe the Armenian assortment is interesting for the Turkish market in terms of some individual products, but that assortment is very limited and not in large volume. Something that cannot be said about Turkish products.
After having the embargo ended, the import of Turkish goods to Armenia has increased many times. It has almost completely recovered to previous levels.
According to official data, in the first half of this year, Turkish imports to Armenia amounted up to more than $ 98 million.
This is more than the imports of the previous year, which amounted up to $ 73 million.
Of course, during the embargo, a certain amount of Turkish goods entered the Armenian market under the name of other countries, but at the same time, the volumes were significantly reduced, enabling some Armenian producers to strengthen their positions in the domestic market. After having the embargo ended, as shown by the import indicators, Turkish goods again attacked the Armenian market with greater momentum, including local producers.
Local producers are again facing problems due to the increase in the volume of imports of the Turkish goods. Relatively cheap Turkish products leave local producers out of the market.
Compared to the previous year, imports from Turkey increased by 3.5 times in the first six months of the year.
This year, as well as during the previous years, Armenia imported various types of household and economic goods, as well as agricultural products from Turkey.
During six months, almost $ 3.5 million worth of citrus fruits were brought.
A large amount of Turkish tomato was also brought, which the greenhouse farms once fought so persistently against. In six months it was 372 tons. In the amount of almost $ 460 000.
Other agricultural products, such as onions, garlic, cabbage, cucumbers and were also brought.
Among Turkish imports, knitwear, clothing and footwear, household electrical equipment and devices, detergents, etc., have a large weight.
This is the very limited list of goods and types of goods that are included in the imports of Turkish goods. They are hundreds of branded products, some of which have significant weight in the Armenian market.
After all, we are talking about annual imports reaching $ 250-280 million, which will expand even more in the nearest future, in case of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement and the expected opening of the borders.
HAKOB KOCHARYAN
