ArmInfo.The metallurgical industry of Armenia in the first quarter of 2021 slowed down the y-o-y growth from 30% to 4.1%. This is evidenced by the data of the RA Statistical Committee. In particular, the production of ferromolybdenum in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year decreased by 18.4% (against 22.5% growth a year earlier), amounting to 1.702 thousand tons. In March alone, 605.7 tons of ferromolybdenum were produced, which is 1.7% more than in February.
Aluminum foil production in Q1 2021 compared to the same period last year, decreased by 2.6% - to 8.656 thousand tons, against 16.8% growth a year earlier. At the same time, in March, the volume of production of aluminum foil increased by 1.8% to 2.802 thousand tons.
Steel pipe production in Q1 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, it increased by 44.9% - to 3,684 thousand tons (against an increase of 31.2% a year earlier), and in March alone there was an increase by 14.1% to 1.334 thousand tons.
Copper concentrate production increased by 6% per annum - to 95.3 thousand tons, against an increase of 30.6% a year earlier. On a monthly basis, the production of copper concentrate increased by 3.6% to 32 thousand tons.
Zinc concentrate production decreased in the first quarter of 2021 by 16.5% per annum - to 2.732 thousand tons, against 27.5% growth a year earlier. In March, the production of zinc concentrate increased by 25.7% to 1,030 thousand tonnes.
The production volumes of molybdenum concentrate also increased - by 2.6% per annum to 4,907.4 tons (against an increase of 57.3% a year earlier). In March alone, production of molybdenum concentrate increased by 57.2% to 2,003.9 tons.
Alloy (carbon) steel castings were produced in the reporting period in the amount of 2,724 thousand tons, with a y-o-y decline of 23.2% against an increase of 27.3% a year earlier. At the same time, in March production volumes increased by 45.3%, amounting to 801.3 tons.
To note, according to the RA Customs Service, in 2020 Armenia reduced the volume of copper ore exports by 9.3% - to 509.8 thousand tons, against an increase of 32.3% in 2019. In value terms, copper ore exports amounted to $ 604.4 million, with a y-o-y decline of 3.5%. Copper ore was exported mainly to Switzerland (38.3%), China (33.7%) and Bulgaria (28%).
At the same time, an increase in the export of zinc concentrate was recorded by 10.9% - up to 12.2 thousand tons, against a decline of 2.5% in 2019. Moreover, the entire volume fell on Belgium. However, the customs value decreased by 21.7%- up to $ 12.9 million.
A positive trend was also observed in the export of molybdenum concentrate, the volumes of which increased, as in the previous year, several times - from 2.1 thousand tons to 16.4 thousand tons, while the customs value increased 5 times - to $ 103.7 million. China (87.1%). In addition, in 2020, Armenia exported about 35.2 thousand tons of foil, providing a 7.9% growth (against 15.1% growth in 2019). At the same time, the customs value decreased by 0.4% - to $ 94.7 million. Foil was mainly exported to the USA (34.8%) and Germany (30.4%).