Photo: Razmik Zakaryan © URA.RU
Three producers, Vedi-Alko, Abovyan Cognac Factory and Shakhnazaryan Wine and Cognac House, have fallen under the restrictions. These are batches of wines and cognacs that, according to the agency, do not meet mandatory quality requirements, Kommersant reported.
Market experts note: Russia remains the main export destination for Armenian alcohol producers. According to WineRetail, Armenia accounts for about 50% of cognac imports to Russia. The share of Armenian products in the structure of the whole Russian cognac market is 12-15%. At the same time, the share of Armenian still wines is much lower – no more than 2% of Russian imports.
Small and medium-sized producers may be especially vulnerable. The industry fears that the restrictions will increase pressure on agriculture and processing inside the country. Many wineries operate on the model of purchasing raw materials from private farms, so the decrease in exports quickly affects the income of farmers.
On the Russian market, the consequences look limited so far. The main brands of Armenian cognac, including Ararat and Noi, have not fallen under the sanctions. However, analysts note a general decline in the share of Armenian alcohol due to logistical difficulties and increased import control.
It should be noted that the trade restrictions coincided with the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Yerevan. After the Armenia-EU summit, Russia began to consistently restrict supplies of Armenian products – from flowers to mineral water. It is not ruled out that the pressure may expand to other categories of goods.
