Armenian exporters have no problems in Russian market - Vahan  Kerobyan

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.