ArmInfo. The alcohol industry in Armenia has recovered from the coronavirus crisis. The volumes of alcoholic beverages produced and exported have increased after a prolonged decline during 2020 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
In particular, according to the data of Customs Service of the Republic of Armenia, in H1 2021, Armenia exported 1.4 million liters of wine, which is 56.6% higher than a year ago (against a decline of 30.6% a year earlier). At the same time, the customs value of exported wine increased by 55.7% to $ 5.1 million.
Traditionally, the main export market for Armenian wine is the Russian Federation, with a share of 59% of exports (against 69.8% in H1 2020), followed by Ukraine with a share of 10.9%, the USA - 10.5%, Kazakhstan - 2%, Italy - 1.7%, France - 1.6%, Bulgaria -1.5%, Belgium - 1.4%, Poland and Lithuania - 0.9% each, Canada - 0.7%, and the remaining volume was distributed among China, Israel, Greece, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Australia, UAE, Belarus, Germany, Latvia, Lebanon, Taiwan, Iceland.
Export of beer in H1 2021 increased by 72.1% (against a decline of 56.7% a year earlier), amounting to 699.4 thousand liters, with a twofold increase in customs value - up to $ 672.9 thousand. The main market for export supplies of Armenian beer is also the Russian Federation, having increased the share on a y-o-y terms from 64.6% to 74.7%, and the remaining volume fell on the USA - 8.1%, France - 5.4%, China (2.8%), Belgium - 2.7%, Iraq and Uruguay - 1.9% each, Georgia - 1.3%, Argentina - 1.1%, and much less- Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, UAE.
In H1 2021, Armenia increased the export of ethyl alcohol (with a strength of up to 80 degrees) by 22.9% to 12.2 million liters, including alcohol-containing tincture, liqueur and other alcoholic beverages, while a year earlier there was a decline of 22.7%. At the same time, the customs value amounted to $ 95.1 million, which is 14.6% more than a year ago.
The lion's share of ethyl alcohol exports falls on the Russian market with a share of 85.9%, the remaining volume was distributed among a number of countries, including Ukraine - 4.2%, Belarus - 2.9%, Iraq - 1.3%, Georgia - 0.7%, USA- 0.4%, as well as Uruguay, Czech Republic, China, France, Republic of Korea, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Lebanon, Estonia, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Canada, UAE, Malta, Belgium, Malaysia, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Greece.
For some unknown reason, the Customs Service of the Republic of Armenia does not publish the export figures for cognac separately.
It should be noted that according to the data of the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, in H1 2021, 18.7 million liters of brandy were produced, which is 23.7% higher than a year ago (against a 14.7% decline in the same period in 2020). The volume of wine produced in Armenia reversed the y-o-y dynamics from 31.7% decline towards 49.4% growth to 5.9 million liters, champagne - from 33.8% decline to 53.2% growth up to 256.3 thousand liters, beer - from a 13.3% decline by 23.2% growth to 13 million liters.
