Friday, September 28 2018 20:28

ArmInfo.The y-o-y growth of foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Russia slowed down in January-August 2018 to 22.3% from last year's 23.5%, exceeding $ 1.2  billion. This was provoked by a slowdown in export growth from 36.6%  to 31.7% and imports from 18 , 3% to 17.9%, the volume of which  amounted to $ 424.2 million and $ 804.8 million, respectively.   According to the Statistics Committee of the RA, on these three  indicators, Russia holds the leadership far ahead.

According to statistical data, the total foreign trade turnover of  Armenia accelerated growth in January- August 2018 to 26.1% from last  year's 24.4% to $ 4.8 billion, in particular, the growth in exports  slowed from 21.7% to 15.7% to $ 1.6 billion, and the increase in  imports, on the contrary, accelerated from 26% to 32%, amounting to $  3.2 billion. In Armenia's foreign trade turnover Russia is followed  by China, Switzerland and Germany who made $ 480.6 million, $ 311.4  million, $ 297.1 million, respectively; the fifth position is held by  Iran - $ 216.6 million. Of these, the largest growth was registered  in Germany - by 50.8%, and the lowest in Iran - by 28.1% .

Switzerland, Bulgaria, Germany and Iraq follow Russia in the TOP-5 in  exports ensuring $ 213.8 million, $ 161.7 million, $ 104.6 million  and $ 83.3 million, respectively. Of these, the y-o-y  decline was  fixed only in Bulgaria, by 11.1%, and Switzerland - by 31.6%. In  terms of import Russia is followed by China, Germany, Iran and  Turkey-$ 406 million, $ 192.5 million, $ 153.6 million and $ 152.8  million respectively.  Of these, Germany registered the largest  growth  - by 72.7%, and the lowest Turkey - by 13.6%.  In total,  Thailand continues to record largest decline in the structure of  exports - at 91.2% per annum (January-August 2018 to the same period  in 2017), in parallel with which imports from there decreased by  12.6%, while in imports, the largest decline registered by Canada -  by 71% with the export coming out of recession by 90.1% growth. The  biggest increase in exports was registered by Cyprus and Romania -  12.8- 12.4 -fold, and in import - by Iraq - by 11.7%.

The main buyers of Armenian goods in January-August 2018 were Russia  - 26.7% in exports, Switzerland - 13.5%, Bulgaria - 10.2%, Germany -  6.6% and Iraq - 5.2%. The main suppliers of imported products to  Armenia were Russia - 25.4% in total imports, China- 12.8%, Germany -  6.1%, Iran - 4.9% and Turkey - 4.8%.

Among the dominant items of Armenian exports,y-o-y growth was  recorded in mineral raw materials - by 9.8% to $ 454.2 million,  finished food products - by 3.6% to $ 324.8 million, non-precious  metals and products from them - by 21% to $ 207.2 million, precious  metals and products from them - by 3.2% to $ 194.7 million, textile  products - by 71.4% to $ 158 million. The same segments recorded the  dominant volumes: mineral raw materials - $ 460.9 million (an  increase of 17.1% %), chemical products - $ 260.2 million (decline of  5.6%), finished food products - $ 243.6 million (an increase of  24.6%), non-precious metals and textile products - $ 209.7 million  (up 33%), precious and semiprecious stones and products - $ 185.9  million (28% growth), and the list of imports is headed by machinery  / equipment and equipment - $ 593.8 million (an increase of 71.8%).

To note, economic activity in Armenia in January-August 2018  accelerated the y-o-y growth rate from 5.5% to 7.7%. According to the  updated forecast of the Central Bank of Armenia, GDP growth in  Armenia in 2018 is expected within 5.6-6.9%, exports - 8-10% and  imports - 6-8%. According to the updated forecast of the World Bank,  Armenia's GDP growth in 2018 will be 4.1%, exports - 10.1% and  imports - 10.3%.