ArmInfo. Russia holds the lead in Armenia's foreign trade turnover in January-November 2021with a volume of more than $ 2.3 billion, with a change in y-o-y dynamics from the 2.8% decline to 18.4% growth, which turned out to be higher than the rates of the same period of 2019, when the 12.6% growth was registered.
Russia retains leadership not only in this indicator, but also in exports and imports - $ 764.9 million and $ 1.55 billion, respectively, the y-o-y dynamics of which also improved, manifested in exports by a reversal from 11.1% decline to 26.6% growth, and for imports - accelerated growth from 1.4% to 14.7%, and these rates also exceeded the pre-COVID upward 10.8% and 13.6%, respectively. This is evidenced by the data of the RA Statistical Committee.
China continues to occupy the second place in Armenia's foreign trade turnover - $ 1.12 billion, with a tangible acceleration in growth from 4.7% to 28.8% (against 17.4% growth in the same period in 2019), while securing 2- place in both exports and imports. In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to China slowed down growth from 59% to 41.5% (against 71% growth two years earlier) to $ 360.8 million, while the dynamics of imports changed from 8.4% decline to 23.6 % growth (against 9.2% growth two years earlier) to $ 756.4 million
Iran moved to the third place in Armenia's foreign trade turnover - $ 442.9 million, due to the change in the y-o-y dynamics of volume from a decrease of 0.6% to an increase of 22.2% (against 9.1% growth two years earlier). In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to Iran amounted to $ 55.15 million with a deterioration in a y-o-y dynamics from 5% growth to 30.8% decline (against a 14.6% decline two years earlier), and imports of goods from Iran - $ 387.7 million (3rd place) with a change in trend from 2.1% decline to 37.2% growth (against 17.8% growth two years earlier).
This moved Switzerland from the previously held 3rd place to 4th in Armenia's foreign trade turnover - $ 326.5 million, as a result of the acceleration of the y-o-y decline from 0.9% to 24.8% (against 5.3% growth two years earlier). In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to Switzerland changed the y-o-y dynamics from 5.3% growth to 28% decline (against 35.4% growth two years earlier), amounting to $ 303.3 million (3rd place), at the same time, imports came out of a 66.9% decline by 82.2% growth (against a 68.7% decline two years earlier), amounting to $ 23.15 million.
Italy moved to the fifth place in the foreign trade turnover of Armenia - $ 262.6 million, leaving Germany to the sixth place ($ 253.8 million). And this was the result of an improvement in the y-o-y dynamics from a 31.6% decline to 24.1% growth (versus a 5.2% decline in the same period in 2019). In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to Italy amounted to $ 57.4 million, with the conclusion of the y-o-y dynamics from a 20.4% decline to 52.8% growth (against a 51.8% decline two years earlier), with imports to the volume of $ 205.2 million (4th place), with a reversal of the ay-o-y dynamics from 33.9% decline to 17.8% growth (with the restoration of the upward trend in the same pre-COVID period - 17.6%).
After Russia in the TOP-3 in terms of exports, the second and third places are taken by China and Switzerland, and in terms of imports by China and Iran.
The share of Russia on a y-o-y terms in Armenia's foreign trade turnover increased from 30.7% to 31.2%, China - from 13.6% to 15.1%, Iran - from 5.7% to 6.0%, Italy - from 3.3% to 3.5%, while the share of Switzerland, on the contrary, decreased - from 6.8% to 4.4%.
An increase in the negative balance of Armenia's foreign trade was recorded in the direction of Russia - by 5.2% to $ 784 million, China - by 10.8% to $ 395.6 million, Iran - by 63.9% to $ 332.6 million, Italy - by 8.3% to $ 147.9 million. The balance of foreign trade between Armenia and Switzerland is positive - $ 280.2 million with a y-o-y decline of 31.5%. Among the countries of Armenia's trade partners, in addition to Switzerland, a positive foreign trade balance is recorded by: Bulgaria ($ 165.2 million), Iraq ($ 152.7 million), the Netherlands ($ 135.7 million), the United Arab Emirates ($ 33.7 million), Slovakia ($ 4.5 million), Kazakhstan ($ 2.5 million) and Kyrgyzstan ($ 1.96 million).
In total, Armenia's foreign trade turnover in January-November 2021 exceeded $ 7.4 billion, with an output of 16.6% growth (out of a 12.4% decline a year earlier, against a 7.4% growth of 7.4% two years ago). In particular, the growth in export volumes turned out to be slightly more significant - by 19.4% to $ 2.7 billion, than imports - by 15.1% to $ 4.7 billion. In comparison with the dynamics of a year ago, the export and import output from the 5.2-15.9% decline was recorded, and even an excess of the upward rates of the same period of 2019 was noted, when the growth of these indicators was 9-6.6%. Armenia's foreign trade turnover with the EAEU countries in January-November 2021 amounted to $ 2.4 billion, with an improvement in ay-o-y dynamics from a 2% decline to 18.2% growth (against 12.8% growth in the same period of 2019), against the background of accelerated growth in imports from 2.5% to 14.1% - to $ 1.6 billion and a reversal of the export trend from a 10.7% decline to 27.4% growth - to $ 801.1 million, while the same period of 2019, an increase in imports by 13.9% was accompanied by a decline in exports by 10.7%.
And Armenia's foreign trade turnover with the EU countries in January-November 2021 reached 24.4% growth (after accelerating the decline in 2020 to 22.8% from 7.6% in 2019), exceeding $ 1.4 billion, against the background of export and imports by 57.2-8.1% growth (from a 29.5-18.9% decline a year earlier) - to $ 604.6 million and $ 834.9 million, respectively, against a 14.2-3.5% decline in the same period of 2019. As a result, the negative foreign trade balance of Armenia increased in January-November 2021 by 9.7% per annum (against a 26.5% decline a year earlier and 4.4% growth two years ago), amounting to $ 1.996 billion. In particular, the negative balance of Armenia's foreign trade with the EAEU countries, having increased by 3.4% in 11 months of 2021 (against growth by 16.6% a year earlier and 17.5% two years earlier), amounted to $ 807.1 million, and the negative foreign trade balance Armenia's trade with the EU countries, having decreased by 40.7% over 11 months of 2021 (against a 4.3% decline a year earlier and a 13.5% growth two years ago), amounted to $ 230.3 million