ArmInfo. The State Commission for protection of economic competition(SCPEC) did not reveal any abuses on the market of socially significant goods in those industries where there are economic entities with a dominant position in the market. On January 16, SCPEC Chairman Artak Shaboyan told journalists, presenting the results of monitoring the market of goods of social value in connection with the price hikes.
According to Shaboyan, the Commission carried out detailed calculations to determine the degree of correlation of prices for goods with tax changes. According to monitoring data, the price of 1 liter of gasoline rose by 20 drams, 1 liter of diesel fuel - by 60 drams, 1 cubic meter of compressed gas - by 20 AMD. So, since January 2018, the excise tax on gasoline imports is 40,000 AMD against the early 25,000 drams (per 1 ton). At the same time, the amount of excise tax and VAT increased from 120 thousand drams to 135 thousand AMD, which, in turn, affected the final price. At the same time, until 2018 import and sale of diesel fuel were not subject to VAT, and the amount of excise tax was not less than 35 thousand AMD for 1 ton. Since January, the excise tax has decreased, amounting to 13 thousand AMD. However, along with this, VAT taxation was added, which led to a rise in price of a liter of diesel fuel by 60 AMD. As for compressed gas, according to Shaboyan, the excise tax increased by 16670 drams - from 8830 AMD to 25 thousand AMD. Plus the amount of VAT, which led to a rise in price of a total of 20 thousand AMD. As a result, according to the SCPEC chairman, it turned out that the price hikes are completely conditioned by the amendments to the Tax Code that came into force on January 1.
At the same time, comparing the prices for gasoline and diesel fuel in Armenia and Georgia, Artak Shaboyan assured that they are almost identical. A slight difference, as the head of the State Commission pointed out, is due to the fact that the gasoline imported to Armenia is transit through the territory of Georgia, and transport costs significantly affect the final cost of fuel. In addition, Georgia also imports fuel from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.