ArmInfo. Armenia's trade sector slowed its annual growth from 3.9% to a nearly stagnant 0.7% in January-August 2026, while maintaining its leading share of GDP at 4.4 trillion drams ($11.8 billion). According to the RA Statistics Committee, in August alone, trade turnover in Armenia grew by 1.3% (almost the same as a year ago - 1.2%), amounting to 620.1 billion drams ($1.7 billion).
This slowdown in annual growth was provoked by a reversal in the dominant wholesale trade sector, which had a 3.4% growth rate and declined by 2.9%, generating revenue of 2.8 trillion drams. AMD ($7.5 billion).
At the same time, revenue from automobile purchases and sales accelerated in growth from 6% to 10.8%, amounting to AMD 187.3 billion ($503 million).
Year-on-year growth in retail trade also accelerated - from 4.6% to 7.1%, generating revenue of AMD 1.4 trillion ($3.8 billion).
In the retail structure, stores (including supermarkets) account for the largest turnover - 83.9% or AMD 1.2 trillion. drams (annual growth of 7.1%) and retail outlets for motor and household fuel - 10.2% or 144.1 billion drams (annual growth of 2.7%), followed by consumer goods markets - 3.7% or 52.1 billion (annual growth of 15.8%), kiosks - 1.2% or 17.7 billion (annual growth of 11.7%), and agricultural markets - 1% or 13.5 billion (annual growth of 17.5%). It is noteworthy that improved annual growth is being recorded in consumer goods markets (recovering from a 3.5% decline), while accelerated growth is being seen in stores, kiosks, and agricultural markets. However, retail sales of motor and household fuels have slowed significantly (from a double-digit 12.4% a year ago).
Wholesale trade dominates Armenia's total trade turnover at 63.4%, followed by retail at 32.3%, and the remaining 4.3% comes from automobile sales and purchases, compared to 65.6%, 30.4%, and 4%, respectively, a year ago.
It is worth noting that the average exchange rate of the dram against the US dollar in January-August 2026 was 372.29 drams/$1, and in August, it was 365.48 drams/$1.
