Armenia will not remain without grain, Samvel Alexanyan, the owner of the Alex Grig Company told NEWS.am. The company is Armenia’s leading grain importer and has stored up sufficient grain reserves.

“We have imported a great deal, and the rest – if Russia does not sell – we can import from other countries, Europe or America,” Alexanyan said. As to the company’s present grain reserves, he said that “it is enough until winter.” If Russia stops supplying grain to Armenia, wheat prices will go up as a result of higher transportation costs.

Without making any forecasts, Alexanyan said that the cost of grain import from Europe and America has not yet been calculated. “I have ordered our staff to deal with the matter, and the situation will be clear in two or three days,” Alexanyan said.

The wheat price has shown a rise of 20 to 30 AMD. Alexanyan forecasts a rise in the price for pasta, baked goods and other farinaceous products.

The businessman said that Alex Grig is in charge of the government grain reserve, as the company has necessary granaries. “Do not worry, we have no problems,” he said. As regards an expected rise in wheat prices, Alexanyan said that he would leave the price unchanged “with pleasure, but it is the dictates of the market.”

On August 5, RF Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated that Russian would stop exporting grain. The grain export will be banned from August 15 to December 31, 2010.

NEWS.am reminds readers that a state of emergency was declared in 27 regions because of a drought in the European part of Russia. The RF Ministry of Agriculture has scaled its grain yield forecasts from 90 down to 70-75 tons.

Russia is the world’s fourth largest grain exporter after the U.S., European Union, and Canada. Russia’s share in the world grain trade is 21-22m tons of the 143m tons.

Armenia imports a total of 300-400 thousand tons of grain yearly, with Russia’s share being the largest.