ArmInfo. In Jan-Aug 2016, the industrial produce in Armenia grew 7% versus Jan-Aug 2015 (against 4.4% growth a year before) to 898.7 bln drams ($1.8bln). The mining sector remains the key driver of the industrial output growth. Improvement of the manufacturing industry dynamics was also fixed in the period under review. According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in August 2016 alone, the industrial output increased 1.3% (versus 9.7% growth in August 2015) to 121.3 bln drams.
In Jan-Aug 2016 versus the same period of 2015, mining industry and open pit mining increased 16.4% (versus 35.1% growth a year before) to 165.5 bln drams. In August alone, the mining industry output totaled 21.2bln drams with a 5.1% y-o-y decline. Manufacturing industry increased 4.1% over year (vs 2.9% decline a year before) to 547bln drams, of which 78bln drams - in August.
In manufacturing industry, the output of non-metallic ore dropped by 24.9% in Jan-Aug 2016, finished metallic items - by 11.6%, recorded media items - by 10.2%. At the same time, production of jewelry grew by 84.4% as compared to Jan-Aug 2015, clothing - by 32.7%, furniture - by 41.3%. Food output totaled 187.4 bln AMD, base metals - 96.5 bln AMD, cigarettes - 78.7 bln AMD, beverages - 65.6 bln AMD.
The supply of electric power, gas, steam and conditioned air increased by 8.5% in Jan-Aug 2016 versus Jan-Aug 2015 (vs 2.8% rise a year before) to 171.7 bln drams. In August alone, this indicator fell by 14.2% to 20bln drams. The generation, transmission and distribution of electric power grew by 11.6% versus Jan-Aug 2015 (down 15.6% in August), whereas the generation of gas and distribution of gaseous fuel through the gas supply systems dropped by 4.4% (down 4.2% in August).
In Jan-Aug 2016, the revenues from water supply, waste disposal and recycling grew 7% as compared to Jan-Aug 215 (vs 10.1% growth a year before) to 14.5 bln AMD (up 6.4% in August alone to 2 bln AMD).
The average AMD/USD exchange rate was 475.45 AMD/$1 in August 2016 and 481.89 AMD/$1 in Jan-Aug 2016 versus 479.78 AMD/$1 in August 2015 and 477.29 AMD/$1 in Jan-Aug 2015.
