ArmInfo.After the coronavirus crisis in 2020, when the production volumes of alcoholic beverages produced in Armenia decreased, in 2021 the country's alcohol industry almost recovered. During the reporting period, growth was registered in the line of all drinks. The only exceptions were champagne, vodka, liquor and some other alcoholic beverages.
In particular, as evidenced by the data of the RA Statistical Committee, 46.7 million liters of brandy were produced in Armenia during the reporting period, which is 19.2% higher than a year ago (against a decline of 9.9% in 2020). Wine production volumes for 2021 exceeded 13 million liters, with a y-o-y growth of 18.8% (instead of a decline of 13.1% a year earlier). At the same time, a decrease was registered in the line of sparkling wine (champagne) by 19.5% to 903.6 thousand liters (against 11% growth in 2020).
During the reporting period, over 4.4 million liters of vodka, liquor and other alcoholic beverages were produced in the country, which is 12.4% less than a year ago (the previous year there was a decline of 14.6%). The volume of beer produced in Armenia reached 28.2 million liters, with an increase of 20% over the year (instead of a decline in 2020 by 10.6%).
At the same time, progressive growth rates of production were registered in the whiskey line. In particular, during the reporting period, 661.5 thousand liters of whiskey were produced in Armenia, which is almost 2- fold higher than a year ago. A year earlier, production volumes decreased by 51.1%.
According to the latest data from the Customs Administration, in H12021, 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, which accounts for 59% of exports (against 69.8% in H12020), 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, United Arab Emirates, 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 2-fold increase in customs value - up to $672.9 thousand. The main market for the export of Armenian beer is also the Russian Federation, increasing the share in the y-o-y context 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- to Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, UAE. In the first half of the year, 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 tinctures, liquor and other alcoholic beverages, while a year earlier a decline of 22.7% was recorded. 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 is 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. The RA Customs Service of unknown reasons, does not publish brandy export indicators separately.
