Wheat import in Armenia up 41% for 6 months of 2015, amid 31.5% decline of flour import

ArmInfo.  Import of wheat in Armenia increased by 41% to 2.2 thousand tons in the 6 months of 2015 versus 1.7 thousand tons a year ago, according to the Customs Service of Armenia. In monetary value, the supplies increased from $1.2 million to $1.7 million year over year (y-o-y).  Import of wheat flour fell 31.5% to 123 tons - $38.5 thousand.

Flour producers in Armenia are Alex-Grig and Manana Grain. These companies are the wheat importers.  Armenia imports wheat mainly from Russia. As ruble depreciated in 2014, flour prices in Russia have slumped and it is more profitable now for importers to import flour rather than wheat. As a consequence, import of wheat in Armenia fell 3.8% in 2014, amid 3.3-fold growth of flour import.

Import of grain in Armenia increased nearly twofold y-o-y to 135.4 thousand tons for $33.7 million. Grain is also imported mainly from Russia.

Alex-Grig (owned by Armenian oligarch, parliamentarian Samvel Alexanyan ) has a dominating position in the market of wheat and flour. Its share in the market exceeds 42%. Manana Grain is another big actor in the market  - over 36%. The two companies supply nearly 80% of the local market. Manana Grain LLC is also one of the biggest grain importers (over 34% of the market).