Armenia increases exports to EU countries 1.5-fold in Jan-Sept 2026

YEREVAN. Oct 22 (Interfax) - Armenia's exports to European Union countries increased 1.5-fold year-on-year in January-September 2026, Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said.

"Armenia's exports to EU countries in January-September 2026 grew 51% compared with January-September 2025, amounting to $717 million compared to $475 million," Papoyan said on social media.

The growth in trade with the European Union is occurring amid problems in trade with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which Armenia is a member of. On September 8, Armenia lodged a complaint with the EAEU over restrictions imposed by Russia on imports of Armenian goods.

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) imposed a ban on supplies from Armenia of flowers, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, herbs and strawberries, stone fruit crops, fresh grapes, pome fruit crops, eggplants, potatoes and dried fruits, live fish and fish products, and dairy products.

Yerevan's active rapprochement with the European Union and discussion of the question of Armenia's possible future accession to the EU have provoked a negative reaction from Moscow. No one is trying to exclude Armenia from the EAEU, but Yerevan must make a choice between the Eurasian Economic Union or the EU, and the sooner this occurs the better, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said.

In September, the Council of the European Union approved a temporary preferential trade regime for Armenia, providing for the abolition of import duties on a significant portion of goods imported from the country for a period of two years.