ARMENIAN EXPORTS DECLINE BY 2.2% AND IMPORTS GROW BY 20.5%

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 12 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-July 2006, Armenia’s
foreign trade made 725 bln 817.1 mln drams or 1 bln 654.6 mln USD, with
exports making 228 bln 725.3 mln drams (522.5 mln USD) and imports –
497 bln 91.8 mln drams (1 bln 131.1 mln USD). According to the RA
National Statistical Service, in January-July 2006, exports declined
by 2.2% on the same period of last year, while imports grew by 20.5%.

In the indicated period, Armenia’s foreign trade balance was negative
by 268 bln 366.6 mln drams (609.9 mln USD), that without cargos
received as humanitarian aid – by 254 bln 700.3 mln drams (578.1
mln USD).

In January-July 2006, Yerevan accounted for 47.1% of the country’s
exports, while the index of the same period of 2005 made 54.8%. In
the first seven months of this year, Yerevan accounted for 69.8%
of imports against 65.4% in the same months of last year.

Exports from Armenia to CIS countries made 522 mln 502.5 thousand
USD or by 6.3% more than in the same period of last year. Imports
from CIS countries amounted to 300 mln 249.2 thousand USD or by 45.2%
more. Exports to Russia made 54 mln 778.5 thousand USD (5.8% decline),
imports from Russia – 174 mln 394.5 thousand USD (27.4%); exports to
Georgia made 31 mln 114 thousand USD (15.2%), imports from Georgia –
38 mln 86 thousand USD.

In January-July 2006, exports from Armenia to EU countries made over
271 mln USD (6.4%), imports from EU countries – over 347 mln USD
(4.7%), including exports to Belgium – 70 mln 759.6 thousand USD
or by 8.8% less than in the same period of last year and imports
from Belgium – 90 mln 515.7 thousand USD (11.6% decline); exports
to Germany – 83 mln 689.8 thousand USD (5.8% decline), imports from
Germany – 49 mln 932.8 thousand USD (5.6% decline); exports to the
Netherlands – 72 mln 377.3 thousand USD (11.5% growth), imports –
12 mln 808.5 thousand USD (48.2% growth).

Exports from Armenia to other countries declined by 18.6% in the
period under review to 148 mln 159.1 thousand USD, whereas imports from
these countries grew by 20.8% to 484 mln 844.5 thousand USD, including
exports to Israel of 53 mln 142.7 thousand USD (27.6% decline), imports
from Israel – 56 mln 675.3 thousand USD (13.2% decline); exports to the
US – 29 mln 715.2 thousand USD (10.6% growth), imports from the US –
7 mln 418.7 thousand USD (25.2% growth); exports to Iran – 17 mln
166.5 thousand USD (11.9% decline), imports – 66 mln 578.4 thousand
USD (40.3% growth); exports to Turkey – 1 mln 149.2 thousand USD (0.2%
decline), imports from Turkey – 40 mln 766 thousand USD (43.5% growth).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress