ArmInfo. The annual export potential of Armenian wine under ideal conditions, while ensuring stable production of grapes, is 10 million bottles. The chairman of the National Wine Center of Armenia Avag Harutyunyan announced this at a press conference on August 18.
With this trend, according to the expert, Armenia will be able to double the volume of wine exports to the Russian market, from 2 million bottles to 4-5 million bottles. In this regard, he noted that according to the results of 2016, 81% of the total volume of production is represented on the Russian market. Russia, according to the expert, is the main consumer of Armenian wine. However, during this time the ruble devalued twice, due to which prices increased by 20%, together with which the indicators reflected a difficult socio-economic situation. "If sanctions against Russia are not extended, we will be able to increase sales volumes in value terms," he said.
At the same time, A. Harutyunyan stressed that in the first half of the year Armenia increased production of wine by 30%. And in comparison with the pre-crisis period, volumes increased 1.5 times. According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in the first half of 2017 Armenia increased production of wine by 29.8% to 3.8 million liters.
According to the report of the Customs Service of Armenia, in 2016 Armenia exported 1.8 million liters of wine with an annual growth of 27.7%, with the customs value increasing by 43.6% to $ 5.9 million.