Record-breaking grape yield in Armenia proves to be beyond of companies` power and results in tangible losses for farmers

"The wine factories were not ready to accept such big volumes of grapes, therefore, no special attention was paid to the quality in the course of processing. In addition, the grapes managed to spoil even before the processing. Consequently, the grapes were sold on the market at low prices and the farmers suffered tangible losses" said Harutyunyan.  

 

The expert noted that the current critical situation is due to the fact that the business structures are separated from the state and that the state is reluctant to create cooperative wine enterprises.   

 

He expects the output to grow by 50-60% in 2016. In absolute terms, this index will grow almost by 10- 15%, he said, noting that the sales market may be diversified. "Today we observe a downward dynamics of wine sales on the Russian market. Over the past 15 years that indicator has been 95%. This year, however, the sales on the Russian market makes up 81-87%. I think for 3 more years our enterprises will be operating at a loss on the Russian market until the Russian ruble is stabilized and until the oil prices grow. As regards China and Europe, we register a 0.5% slackening in the year-over-year growth," he said.

 

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, in Jan-Sept 2015 the wine output grew by 5.2% to 3999 thsd liters. In September alone, the output rose by 14.7% to 513.8 thsd liters.