ArmInfo. The embargo on the import of Turkish goods has facilitated the recovery of genuine leather production in Armenia, RA Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan reported in a Facebook message.
Formerly, undressed hides were exported to Turkey, with processed leather and leather imported back to Armenia. After the import of Turkish goods was banned, raw materials are processed in Armenia and processed leather is used for, in particular, production of footwear for the Armenian army. Over 300 tons of hide cattle has been dressed in Armenia over the last month. The Armenian government`s decision to ban the import of Turkish goods has enabled foreign investors to re-operate the Yerevan tannery.
According to the RA Customs Service, in the first half of 2021 Armenia imported just 248 pairs of shoes/boots from Turkey against 38,000 in the first half of 2020. A total of 584kg of processed tanned leather were imported in the first half of 2021 against 16 tons in the in the first half of 2020. Mr Kerobyan reported earlier that Armenia`s imports from Turkey totaled $260mln in 2020, with Armenia`s exports ranging from $2mln to $3mln. By the end of 2021, Armenia`s imports from Turkey had slumped ten times, with no exports recorded.
