YEREVAN. – Local producers still have the advantage in the Armenian cement market.
The Minister of Economic Development and Investments of Armenia, Tigran Khachatryan, stated the aforesaid during Friday’s debates at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, and with respect to the package of bills on making amendments to several relevant laws
In his words, local cement production grew by 53 percent in Armenia, whereas imports—by 3.5 times, in the year past.
“Imports grow much faster than our local production,” Khachatryan explained.
He informed that according to a study by the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments, the average cost price of the cement of local enterprises is Armenian drams equivalent to $85-$90 per ton, whereas cement in Iran costs $15-$20 per ton.
“It’s not even about cost price, but retail trade,” the minister added. “And [its] transport to Armenia is estimated $15 per ton. As a result, Iranian cement costs just $30 (…) on the Iranian border, in Meghri.”
The said package of bills proposes to increase the customs duty on Iranian cement imports into Armenia up to 22,000 drams (approx. US$45) per ton. As per the Armenian government, this will be an action of support for local cement producers.
