Armenia halts tomato paste imports to cushion blow from Russia trade disruption

Armenia has imposed a six-month ban on tomato paste imports, including from fellow Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states, in an effort to support domestic producers following a sharp decline in agricultural exports to Russia.

The measure was approved at a government meeting on July 30 and is designed to boost sales of locally produced tomato paste, increase demand for Armenian-grown tomatoes and ensure processors purchase the entire domestic harvest, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

According to the government's explanatory note, restrictions affecting the export and transit of Armenian quarantine-regulated agricultural products to Russia have significantly reduced exports of fruit and vegetables, particularly greenhouse-grown tomatoes.

With export routes disrupted, a large share of greenhouse tomatoes that would normally be shipped abroad is now being sold on the domestic market, depressing demand for open-field tomatoes grown by local farmers.

The government said exports of greenhouse tomatoes totalled just around 800 tonnes between May 22 and July 22, compared with roughly 7,000 tonnes during the same period last year. All of those exports had previously been destined for EAEU markets.

Officials said the temporary import ban is expected to strengthen the domestic processing industry and stabilise demand for locally produced tomatoes.

Government data also showed that Armenia imported an average of 5,336 tonnes of tomato paste annually between 2020 and 2025, while average annual exports over the same period stood at about 3,822 tonnes.

By Aghakazim Guliyev