YEREVAN. – Close to 61,000 sheep were exported from Armenia in 2012, against the 115,000 in the previous year, the State Revenue Committee informs. 

In the year past, one sheep was exported with a customs value of $140, whereas this was $105 in 2011. As a result, the total customs value of the sheep that were exported in 2012 made up $8.5 million, against the $12 million in 2011.  

Armenia’s sheep are primarily exported to Iran, albeit the Iranian businessmen avoid importing sheep, due to the Iranian national currency’s almost fourfold devaluation, but the export gained momentum again in the last quarter of 2012. Sheep is exported to the United Arab Emirates, too.  

Due to the drop in sheep exports, however, the price of sheep meat stabilized at the markets of Armenia’s capital city Yerevan.