Given all the speculation revolving around Armenia’s stated willingness to join the Russia-led Customs Union, let’s take a look at Armenia’s actual import/export trade figures (as supplied by the National Statistical Service).

Despite a fall in the actual tonnage of Armenia’s exports to the European Union over the past three years, the dollar value of these exports remain greater than the dollar value of Armenian exports to Customs Union member states.

The same holds true for Armenian imports. Given the dependence of Armenia on Russian gas and grains, the total tonnage of imports from Russia has increased considerably. However the dollar value of total Armenian imports from the Customs Union is still less than imports from the European Union.

2012	Exports (Tons – Dollars)		Imports (Tons – Dollars)
European Union	139.793	511.604.600	333.149	1.124.378.000
Customs Union (Total)	128.385	289.783.400	2.191.814	1.099.901.700
Russia	125.687	279.109.000	2.148.435	1.057.416.400
Kazakhstan	1.134	3.964.100	33.335	8.896.500
Belarus	1.564	6.710.300	10.044	33.588.800

So what exactly does Armenia export to the European Union? Simply put – 79% (111,378 tons) of what Armenia exported to the E.U. in 2012 was mining materials (ore, slag and ash). The main buyers were Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium. The second biggest export was copper and copper items – 9,897 tons. “Black Metals” came in third place – 86,864 tons.

Imports from the E.U. remain in the mineral fuels sector – gasoline and related products, bituminous products, wax, etc – for a total of 144,134 tons (or 44% of total imports). Armenia also imported some 36,000 tons of aboveground transportation equipment and parts from Germany. In 2012, Armenia also imported 14,642 tons of “manufactured food remains and livestock feed” from the E.U.

2011	Exports (Tons – Dollars)		Imports (Tons – Dollars)
European Union	126.979	607.403.200	409.816	1.167.844.500
Customs Union (Total)	87.633	232.622.500	1.720.134	945.793.600
Russia	85.675	222.273.700	1.624.439	890.873.200
Kazakhstan	690	4.398.500	87.362	25.335.900
Belarus	1.268	5.950.300	8.333	29.574.500

As for Armenian exports to the Customs Union (the lion’s share going to Russia), 48% was in the form of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and vinegar. Russia is also a large market for Armenian fruit – 24,000 tons last year. An additional 10,797 tons of salt, sulfur, earth and stone, cement and limestone was exported to Russia.

2010	Exports (Tons - Dollars		Imports (Tons – Dollars)
European Union	134,923	501,120, 000	410, 536	1,026, 945,400
Customs Union (Total)	71,177	168,171, 800	1, 664, 604	879, 045, 400
Russia	68,541	160.507.800	1.628.752	835,271,700
Kazakhstan	1,163	3,083,300	23,796	11,864.400
Belarus	1,473	4,580,700	12,056	31,909.300

Naturally, Russian gas remains Armenia’s largest import from the Customs Union. Gas comprises 70% of total Russian imports. Russian grain comes in second at 475,480 tons. Almost everything Armenia imports from Kazakhstan is also in the form of grains.