Armenian MP proposes rising duty on metal fitting 

ArmInfo. Narek Ghahramanyan and Sergey Bagratyan, members of the ruling Civil Contract faction in the Armenian Parliament, propose increasing the state duty for issuing  licenses, permits, or certificates (or their duplicates) for the  import of metal reinforcement from 20 times the state duty to 50  times the state duty. The bill amending the RA Law on State Duty was  presented by the initiative's co-author, Narek Ghahramanyan, at a  meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic  Affairs on November 7.

The MP emphasized that this sector is a priority for the government.  In this regard, the Cabinet of Ministers has repeatedly extended the  ban on the export of ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap and waste  from the country (most recently until August 2, 2026). In addition, a  uniform state duty of 29,000 drams per ton was established on the  import of finished metal rebar to Armenia from countries outside the  EAEU.

However, recently, due to the devaluation of the national currency in  Iran and the reduction in the cost of Iranian products, the average  weighted customs value of one ton of rebar has decreased by  approximately 35,000 drams. This has created an unequal competitive  environment for rebar importers and manufacturers.

"With the current decision, we want to balance the situation,"  Ghahramanyan stated.

Deputy Minister of Economy Edgar Zakaryan acknowledged that local  producers are currently facing certain difficulties. Over the past  few months, the import cost of metal rebar has decreased by  approximately 47,000 drams per ton, he added.

"Our colleagues propose increasing the state duty from 29,000 drams  per ton to 55,000 drams." "However, we performed certain calculations  to avoid assuming the devaluation of the neighboring country's  national currency, and instead to take into account dumping factors  that directly impact competition. This led us to a figure of 45 times  the current value, meaning a state duty of 45,000 drams," the deputy  minister stated.

Opposition faction MP Tadevos Avetisyan, in turn, noted that neither  the initiator of the amendments nor the Ministry of Economy took into  account the interests of the Armenian consumer in their calculations.

The bill received a positive opinion from the commission and will be  included in the agenda of the upcoming plenary session of the  National Assembly.

According to statistics, imports of steel rebar from the Islamic  Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia are steadily increasing.  According to earlier studies conducted by the Commission for the  Protection of Competition, the average weighted customs value of 1  ton of rebar decreased by 52,000 drams in 2023 compared to 2022, from  269,000 to 217,000 drams. It was noted that the average price of 1  ton of rebar produced in the Republic of Armenia is 259,600 drams,  with the minimum and maximum prices being 215,000 and 300,000 drams,  respectively.

According to data from the Armenian Ministry of Economy as of the end  of October, local metal production volumes increased significantly as  a result of the export ban. Specifically, in 2024, the production of  unalloyed steel for castings increased by 2.4 times, the production  of steel pipes, hollow sections, and their fittings by 10.8%,  household goods cast from aluminum by 5.8%, and metal structures and  their parts made of iron, cast iron, steel, or aluminum by 19%. As a  result of the measures taken by the government, investments were  directed into the industry in 2022-2025, including foreign ones  (Karakert Stone Smelting Plant, GTB Steel, Dzulakentro, Edmet, Aske  Group, Asedl). According to the Ministry of Economic Development's  forecasts, the total investment volume for the above-mentioned  programs will amount to approximately $100 million, resulting in the  creation of 550-750 new jobs, and an increase in the use of local  ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal by 65-70%, bringing the annual  scrap consumption volume to 250,000 tons.