YEREVAN. - In second quarter of 2011 Armenia reduced the volume of wheat import by 36.2 percent in relation to the relevant period of last year, says National Statistical Service of Armenia.

Armenia imports 300-400 thousand tons of wheat annually.

The decline in wheat imports for the 2nd quarter of 2011 is related to abundant harvest of wheat both in Armenia and in the major importing countries (Russia, Ukraine). These expectations were justified: reduction of prices of wheat on the international market made it more favorable to have large imports of wheat in August.

In rural areas of southern Russia wheat can be purchased at very low cost, since farmers face the problem of storage in case of abundant harvest.