Government Temporarily Bans Cement Imports to Armenia for Six Months

The Government of Armenia decided in its meeting today, December 4, to impose a temporary six-month ban on cement imports to the country.

It was noted that cement production in Armenia is expected to decrease by 7.3% in 2024 (to 1.05 million tons) compared to 2023, and by 18.1% during the first half of 2025 (to 398.1 thousand tons) compared to the same period last year.

The production capacities of cement manufacturing enterprises in Armenia total approximately 2.5 million tons, exceeding the domestic market demand of 1.4-1.5 million tons.

According to the Statistical Committee’s data, the volume of imported cement from third countries has increased. Specifically, in 2024, 581 thousand tons of cement were imported, an increase of 47% compared to 2023. In the first half of 2025, 319 thousand tons of cement were imported, marking a 24% increase compared to the first half of 2024.

In this case, the competitiveness of local cement has further declined, worsening the financial situation of local producers. To address this, the National Assembly has made amendments to the law on state duties, setting the state fee for issuing a license for importing cement from third countries at 800 times the base rate per ton, as opposed to the previous 200 times.

At the same time, the increase in cement import volumes indicates that the proposed regulations do not hinder the import process from third countries, while ensuring the domestic market's demand for cement (due to competition between local cement producers, including those producing cement from imported clinker, and those importing cement from third countries).

To continue supporting local production development, it is deemed appropriate to continue the licensing process for cement imports from third countries after the expiry of the current decision N 873-N on June 26, 2025, and establish a new six-month licensing period. This initiative will promote healthy competition between local cement producers and importers.