ArmInfo. The turnover of the Armenian trade sector continues to decline. According to the RA Statcommittee, in January-May 2020, the trade sector showed a decline of 10.8% yoy (against growth of 9.4% a year earlier), with a volume of 1.027 trillion. drams ($ 2.1 billion). This decline is due to a noticeable decline in retail sales and slightly smaller car and wholesale trade. However, only in May 2020, the trade sector showed a growth of 33.3% after the April recession of 29.4%, with a volume of 210.6 billion drams ($ 435 million).
According to statistical data, wholesale trade in January-May decreased by 8.1% yoy to 516.7 billion drams ($ 1.1 billion), compared with an increase of 13.7% a year earlier. In May 2020 alone, the wholesale trade turnover in Armenia increased by 44% to 94.7 billion drams, after the April decline of 22.5%. Retail trade reduced revenue in January-May by 13.4% yoy to 476.7 billion drams, against 7.8% growth a year earlier. In May alone, retail trade turnover increased by 25.4% to 109.5 billion drams, after the April decline of 37.6%.
In the structure of retail trade, the largest turnover is provided by shops (including supermarkets) - 384.1 billion drams or 80.6% (with an annual decline of 11.8%), other retail facilities - 61.5 billion drams or 13% (with an annual decline of 16.8%), followed by consumer goods markets with a margin of 16.4 billion or 3.4% (with an annual decline of 32.1%), stalls and kiosks - 10.6 billion or 2.2% ( with an annual decline of 12.3%) and agricultural markets - 3.9 billion, or 0.8% (with an annual decline of 19.9%).
The volume of car purchase / sale in January-May 2020 decreased by 11.7% to 33.3 billion drams, against a decline of 17.8% a year earlier. On a monthly basis, revenue from the purchase / sale of cars increased by 28.5% to 6.3 billion drams, after the April 12.5% decline.
In the structure of the total trade turnover of Armenia, the share of wholesale trade is 50.3%, retail - 46.5%, and the remaining 3.2% are car purchase / sale.
Recall that in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in Armenia, a state of emergency was introduced on March 16, which was to last until July 13, but there is a high probability of an extension of another month. With the introduction of the emergency, a temporary ban was imposed on many types of economic activity, which, despite the gradual relaxation of these restrictive measures, and since May 18 the complete lifting of the ban, negatively affected macroeconomic indicators. Moreover, international air, rail and bus services have not yet been resumed, which has a direct impact on the tourism industry and related segments. And the extremely high uncertainty of the coronavirus situation further exacerbates expectations in the direction of the negative scenario.
