ARMENIA BOOSTS COGNAC EXPORTS 15% IN 2008

Interfax
Feb 17 2009
Russia

Armenia increased cognac exports 14.6% to 15.072 million liters in
2008, Avag Arutyunian, chairman of the Armenian Winemakers Union,
told Interfax.

Armenian cognac exports have been growing steadily since 1998.

Cognac imports declined 4% to 15,900 liters last year, he said.

The country boosted cognac production 13% to 15.962 million liters
in 2008.

At the same time, Arutyunian said cognac production grew at lesser
rates in 2008 than in 2007 and 2006 due to a shortage of grapes in
the country.