Yerevan/Mediamax/. Decline in production at Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC, “ArArAt” brand) made 36% in 2009, while in general production of cognac in Armenia decreased by 46-47% last year.

Mediamax reports that YBC General Director Ara Grigoryan said this at a news conference in Berd town of Tavush marz of Armenia.

“The best period of the Company’s activity for us remains the year of 2007, and we hope that we will reach the results of 2007 only in 2012”, Ara Grigoryan stated, at that noting that the year of 2010, nevertheless, will be far more successful for the company than the previous one.

According to YBC General Director, the company’s primary task for this year is to secure the indices of 2009 as to purchase and prices of grape. In 2009, YBC purchased 32 thousand tons of grape; in Armavir and Aygavan branches of YBC grape was purchased at the price of 130AMD/kg, and in Tavush – 120AMD/kg.

“In 2009, YBC did not succeed as to the issue of diversification of sale markets. Our urgent task is to reduce Russia’s share in the markets of our presence to less depend on one economy”, Ara Grigoryan stated.

At that he noted that “ArArAt” cognac is competitive in any market and YBC has not problems, related to product quality. 

Production Director of YBC Philippe Thibaut noted that the peculiarities of the Armenian cognac are the local varieties of grape and the climate. “Armenian cognac has peculiarities, which make it different from all competitors. We will win new markets and will come out of the crisis by preserving and developing the peculiarities of “ArArAt” cognac”, Philippe Thibaut stated.

Commenting on the recent statement by the Chairman of the Union of Armenian Winemakers Avag Harutyunyan, according to which 5 hectares of vineyards near Etchmiadzin were infected with Phylloxera, Ara Grigoryan stated that YBC constantly watches the situation and has invited French specialists for this issue.

“At present, when the winter is over, it is not yet clear, whether the infection is still there or not, but if there are the syndromes, we will take all the necessary preventive measures”, Ara Grigoryan stated.

Answering the question on the influence of the national currency exchange rate fluctuation on the company’s activity, Ara Grigoryan stated that although depreciation of AMD is profitable for all exporters, however the insignificant change in the exchange rate and, in particular, depreciation of the Armenian currency for a few points, taking place recently, are not of special importance for YBC.