ARMENIAN COGNAC PRODUCTION DROPS 40% IN 9 MONTHS

Interfax
Nov 2 2009
Russia

The Armenian cognac production dropped by 40.4% to 6.801 million
liters in January-September 2009 compared to the same period in 2008,
the national statistics service said in a report.

Cognac production growth rates started to decrease, reaching a peak
of 50.4% in the first half of 2009.

The main reason for this slump is the global financial crisis which
led to a reduction in Armenian cognac consumption on its traditional
markets, Russia and Ukraine.

Domestic production of liqueurs and spirits in the first nine months
of 2009 dropped by 1.4% to 8,299,400 liters. Wine production rose
by 12.7% to 2,330,700 liters, sparkling wines dropped by 9.4 % to
144,800 liters.

Beer output remained the same in the reporting period and totaled
26,413,800 liters.