EXPORTS FROM ARMENIA DECLINE BY 5.6% IN JANUARY-MARCH 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR, IMPORTS GROW BY 13.6%
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, Armenia’s foreign
trade turnover made 273 bln 508.7 mln drams or 606.4 mln USD. According
to the RA National Statistical Service, commodity exports amounted
to 83 bln 131.3 mln drams or 184.4 mln USD, while imports – to 190
bln 377.4 mln drams or 422 mln USD. The foreign trade balance was
negative by 107 bln 246.1 mln drams (237.6 mln USD), without cargos
received as humanitarian aid – by 102 bln 682.9 mln drams (227.5 mln
USD). In the period under review, exports declined by 5.6% on the same
periood of 2005, whereas imports grew by 13.6%. In the first quarter
of 2006, exports to CIS countries amounted to 36 mln USD (a 8.8%
increase on January-March 2005), while imports – to 140.2 mln USD
(a 28.6% increase), including exports of about 19 mln USD to Russia
(a 4.4% decline) and imports of 55.6 mln USD from Russia (a 31.9%
growth), and exports of 12 mln USD to Georgia (a 33.4% growth) and
imports of 7.4 mln USD from Georgia (a 256.5%).
Exports to European Union countries made about 100 mln USD (a 10%
growth), imports from EU countries – 114.6 mln USD (a 17.1% growth),
including exports of 24 mln USD to Belgium (a 4.8% decline) and imports
of 27.6 mln USD from Belgium (a 22.9% decline), exports of 33.8 mln
USD to Germany (a 11.4% decline) and imports of 29.2 mln USD from
Germany (a 60.6% growth), exports of 28.6 mln USD from the Netherlands
(a 49.3% growth) and imports of 2.8 mln USD from the Netherlands
(a 19% growth). Exports to Israel – another large trade partner of
Armenia made 16.6 mln USD (a 49.9% decline) and imports from that
country amounted to 24.2 mln USD (a 32.3% decline), exports to the US
made 25.8 mln USD (a 25.8% increase) and imports from the US – 20.5
mln USD (a 12.8% increase). In the first quarter of 2006, exports
of plastic goods, rubber and articles made of rubber grew 10.6fold
on the same period of last year, exports of art works – by 212.4%,
exports of footwear, head-gear and umbreallas – by 130.4%, and exports
of devices grew by 76.4%. The most considerable decline in exports
was registered in the commodity group of various industrial goods –
18.5%, as well as live animals and production of organic origin –
17.1%, machines, equipment and mechanisms – 16.6%, and precious and
semiprecious stones, precious metals and items made of them – 14.8%.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
