Armenia curtails export of cement to Georgia drastically and boosts its import from Iran

Armenia that has two big cement factories curtailed export of cement 2.5-fold in 2014 and increased its import 2.2-fold, according to the Customs Service of Armenia. 

 

Last year, Armenia exported 73,000 tons of cement versus 185.2 thousand tons in 2013. The customs cost of the exported cement fell from $11.8 million in 2013 to $4.6 million in 2014 (2.6-fold). 

 

In 2013, cement export grew 36% amid doubled import. Ministry of Economy told ArmInfo, the cement export fell dramatically in 2014, as a new cement factory was put into exploitation in Rustavi - Georgia - the key consumer of the Armenian cement.  Now, there are three cement 

factories of HeidelbergCement Group and 4 enterprises of the same company producing concrete steel constructions in Georgia.  

 

According to the source, Armenia imports cement mostly from Iran (98%), In 2014, the country imported 7.5 thousand tons of cement for $1.2 million versus 3.4 thousand tons for $615.2 thousand tons in 2013.  According to the Statistical Service of Armenia, the cement 

production fell 0.9% in 2014, 1.5% in 2013 versus 3.6% growth in 2012. The construction sector shrank 4.3% to 433.2 billion drams. In Q1 2015, the construction sector grew insignificantly - 0.4%. 

 

Armenia operates 2 cement factories - Araratcement and Mika Cement. According to ArmInfo's data, after MIKA Ltd  - owed by businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov - was recognized as bankrupt, Mika-Cement was transferred VTB Bank (Armenia) in exchange for debts and is now under trust management. Araratcement belongs to oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan.