ArmInfo.Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan excludes the possibility of problems for Armenian exporters on the Russian market.
So on October 13, responding to a remark from journalists that one of the leading retail chains in the Russian Federation was boycotting Armenian goods, which is fraught with huge problems for all exports, Kerobyan first noted that only 40% of Armenian exports come from Russia (the share of exports to the Russian Federation in 2022, compared to 2021, increased by 17.1%, reaching 45%, export volume - by 186.8% or $1,570.3 million, ed note).
"The business entities are working, everything is fine, there are no problems. There are no congestions at the "Upper Lars" checkpoint," he noted, pointing out that since June last year, after reaching agreements with the Russian side, new lanes have opened at the checkpoint, and travel procedures have been simplified for Armenian exporters. "There were problems for a couple of days, but they were resolved," Kerobyan noted.
The head of the Ministry of Economy stated that there are no problems with diesel fuel on the Armenian market. "There were certain problems with gasoline, but the first request of the Armenian side was partially satisfied. We work with our partners", he said.
When asked whether a reduction in fuel prices is expected, the minister noted that everything depends on the market situation.
Problems with the export of alcoholic products made in Armenia began in March 2023, when the Federal Customs Service of Russia began to carry out control checks of the products, of which the Armenian side was notified in advance. This was explained by the fact that batches of counterfeit brandy were discovered. At the end of September, Russian customs officers switched to enhanced control. If previously control was carried out in relation to specific importers, then due to the increase in violations, customs officers had to check all batches of imported drinks. On October 3, it was reported that about 60 heavy trucks with brandy had accumulated on the border with Russia, awaiting completion of the quality assessment. On the evening of October 5, the customs attache of the RA Embassy in Russia Vahan Hakobyan told an ArmInfo correspondent that the Russian Federal Customs Service intends to abolish enhanced customs control over brandy imported from Armenia.
Earlier the Russian Foreign Ministry disseminated information that in response to an appeal from the Armenian leadership, Russia began supplying the oil products needed by the republic. The Russian diplomatic department clarified that Moscow met its allies halfway within the framework of the relevant intergovernmental agreement signed in December 2013, despite the imposition of a temporary ban on the export of commercial gasoline and diesel fuel from the country by the Russian government on September 21.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Armenia, in turn, reported that the Armenian side applied Russia to increase the quota for the export of gasoline and diesel fuel, emphasizing that "Yerevan never asked Moscow to supply diesel fuel or gasoline for free." "In October 2023, the quota for gasoline and diesel fuel was exhausted, and the Armenian side made a request to increase the quota, which was partially satisfied, as a result of which Armenian importers were able to buy from Russia and import 15 thousand tons of gasoline and 20 thousand tons of diesel fuel," the Armenian department reported.
