ArmInfo.The revenue of Armenia's trade sector in Q1 2026 saw a year-on-year growth slowdown, dropping from 6% to 2.1% and totaling AMD 1.44 trillion ($3.8 billion). According to data from the Statistical Committee of the RA, trade turnover in March alone rose by 14.1%, reaching AMD 550.5 billion ($1.4 billion).
Specifically, wholesale trade in Q1 2026 reversed its annual trajectory, shifting from a 5.9% growth to a 0.9% decline, with revenue amounting to AMD 916.8 billion. Conversely, retail trade accelerated its annual growth from 5% to 8.1%, generating AMD 469.8 billion in revenue.
Meanwhile, the volume of automobile sales and purchases in Q1 2026 yielded AMD 56.1 billion in revenue, reflecting a 3.3% annual increase (compared to a 15.2% decline a year ago). Within the retail trade structure, the largest turnover is generated by shops (including supermarkets), accounting for 82.8% or AMD 389 billion (a 7.7% annual increase). Other trade outlets follow at 11.2% or AMD 52.4 billion (+11.3% growth). These are followed by consumer goods markets at 3.9% or AMD 18.5 billion (+10.8%), stalls/kiosks at 1.2% or AMD 5.7 billion (a 0.3% decline), and agricultural markets at 0.9% or AMD 4.2 billion (+5.7%).
In the overall structure of Armenia's trade turnover, wholesale trade dominates with a 63.5% share, followed by retail trade at 32.6%, while the remaining 3.9% is attributed to the automobile trade. The average calculated exchange rate of the Dram in Q1 2026 was AMD 378.30/$1, and in March, it was AMD 377.36/$1.
