Thursday, April 7 2022 18:51

ArmInfo.The share of Russia in the foreign trade turnover of Armenia in January-February 2022 compared to January-February 2021, increased from 31.6% to 33.5%,  while the EU's share decreased from 20.3% to 18.3%. Moreover, Russia  continues to hold the lead not only in terms of the total volume of  foreign trade, but also in terms of exports and imports, having  increased its share in exports from 28.7% to 29.4% and in imports  from 33.4% to 35.7%.

At the same time, the share of the EU in exports  only slightly increased from 21.2% to 21.4%, while in imports it  decreased from 19.7% to 16.6%. This is evidenced by the data of the  RA Statistical Committee.

The following European countries have reduced their share in foreign  trade with Armenia, particularly in terms of both exports and  imports: Germany (down to 3.8%), Italy (up to 2.6%), Bulgaria (up to  1.6%), France (up to 0.8%), Poland (up to 0.6%), Finland and Greece  (up to 0.2%), Czech Republic (up to 0.1%), The Netherlands (up to  3.3%), Spain (up to 1.5%), Belgium (up to 1.3%), Romania (up to  0.6%), Sweden (up to 0.3%), Lithuania (up to 0.2%).

In January-February 2022, the volume of foreign trade between Armenia  and Russia exceeded $475.2 million, with a fixed improvement in y-o-y  dynamics with an change from a 12.5% decline to a 61.4% increase. In  particular, the volume of exports, having sharply accelerated y-o-y  growth from 2.2% to 43.1%, reached $147.9 million, and imports,  having reversed from the 18.5% decline to 71.2% growth, reached  $327.4 million.

China continues to occupy the second place in terms of total volume  of foreign trade in general, and in terms of exports and imports,  particular. Thus, the volume of foreign trade turnover between  Armenia and China in January-February 2022 exceeded $206.7 million,  with a noticeable acceleration in y-o-y growth from 6.8% to 48.3%. In  particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to China slowed  down the y- o-y growth from 3.4-fold to 7.2%, amounting to $58.5  million (2nd place), while the volume of imports changed the trend  from the 25.9% decline to the 74.8% growth, amounting to $148.3  million (2nd place).

Iran occupied the third place in the foreign trade turnover of  Armenia - $90.7 million, with the change of the y-o-y dynamics from a  0.3% decline to a 55.6% growth. In particular, the volume of exports  of Armenian goods to Iran amounted to $17.7 million with a 2.4-fold  sharp increase (against a 45.7% decline a year earlier), and imports  of goods from Iran - $73 million (3rd place) with an acceleration of  y-o-y growth from 13% to 43%.

This kept Switzerland in the fourth place in Armenia's foreign trade  turnover with a volume of over $58.9 million, with a change in y-o-y  dynamics from a 25.9% decline to a 42.1% growth. In particular, the  volume of exports of Armenian goods to Switzerland increased by 38.4%  (from 26.4% decline a year earlier), amounting to $54.8 million (3rd  place), and the same reversal of y-o-y dynamics was observed in  imports- from a 15.4% decline to a 2.2-fold increase to $4.1 million.

Germany held the fifth place in Armenia's foreign trade turnover -  $54.5 million, due to the acceleration of y-o-y growth from 21.6% to  45.3%. In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods to  Germany amounted to $15.2 million (with an acceleration of y-o-y  growth from 20% to 30.9%), while imports in the amount of $39.3  million (with an acceleration of y-o-y growth from 22.3% to 51.6%).

In addition to Russia, of the above-mentioned top five trading  partner countries of Armenia, Iran also increased its share in  foreign trade turnover in y-o-y terms - from 6.2% to 6.4%, while the  other four, on the contrary, reduced their share: China - from 15% to  14.6%, Switzerland - from 4.4% to 4.2%, Germany - from 4% to 3.8%. In  particular, in addition to Russia, Iran also increased its share in  total exports - from 2% to 3.5%, while the rest of the three  distinguished themselves by reducing their share: China - from 15.2%  to 11.6%, Switzerland - from 11% to 10.9%, Germany - from 3.2% to 3%.  And in the total volume of imports, along with Russia, China  increased its share - from 14.8% to 16.2% and Switzerland - from 0.3%  to 0.4%, while Iran and Germany reduced their shares from 8.9 % and  4.5% to 8% and 4.3% respectively.

An increase in the negative balance of Armenia's foreign trade was  registered in the direction of Russia - 2- fold to $179.5 million,  China - 3-fold to $89.8 million, Iran - by 26.2% to $55.3 million,  Germany - by 68.3% to $24.2 million. Armenia's foreign trade with  Switzerland is positive - $50.7 million, with y-o-y growth of 34.2%.  Among the countries of Armenia's trading partners, a positive foreign  trade balance is recorded, in addition to Switzerland, Iraq ($34.4  million), Bulgaria ($17.2 million), the Netherlands ($37.1 million),  the United Arab Emirates ($3.8 million), Slovakia ($1.7 million),  Kazakhstan ($842.3 thousand), Kyrgyzstan ($592.9 thousand). Armenia's  foreign trade with Georgia ($4.2 thousand), Belgium ($1.8 million),  Turkmenistan ($1.03 million) and Cyprus ($200.5 thousand) also  entered a positive balance, and, conversely, foreign trade with the  United States ($12.3 million) and Lithuania ($1.1 million) changed to  a negative balance.

In total, Armenia's foreign trade turnover in January-February 2022  amounted to $1.4 billion, an increase of 52.4% per annum (against a  12.2% decline a year earlier). In particular, the growth in imports  turned out to be more significant - by 60.2% to $917 million, than  exports - by 40.1% to $503.7 million, against a decline in these  items a year earlier, respectively, in imports by 15.8% and exports  by 5.5%. As a result, the negative balance of Armenia's foreign trade  doubled, reaching $413.3 million in January-February 2022.

The share of the EAEU in the foreign trade turnover of Armenia  increased in January-February 2022 to 34.6%, and in general with the  CIS countries - up to 36.7%. Armenia's foreign trade turnover with  the EAEU countries in the reporting period amounted to $491.2 with a  y-o-y growth of 62.3%, and with the EU countries - $259.9 with y-o-y  growth of 37.6%. Moreover, exports to the EAEU countries increased by  42.7% to $153.1 million, with an increase in imports by 73% to $338.1  million, and exports to the EU countries increased by 41.3% to $107.7  million, with an increase in imports by 35.1% to $152.2 million The  negative balance of Armenia's foreign trade with the EEU countries  has doubled, reaching $185.1 million by March, and with the EU  countries increased moderately - by 22.2% to $44.5 million