Cigarettes with a customs value of $266.2 million were exported from Armenia during 2018, 9.3 percent up on the value of cigarette exports the previous year, according to an Arka News Agency story quoting the State Revenue Committee.
Export volume in 2018 was put at 27 billion pieces, but no comparable figure for the previous year was given.
The bulk of cigarettes were reportedly exported to countries in the Middle East, in particular to Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Syria.
Fourteen point five billion cigarettes worth $146.6 million were exported to Iraq in 2018, up from 10.8 billion worth $112.3 million in 2017.
Cigarette exports to the UAE were said to have fallen in volume by 37 percent to 3.5 billion pieces worth $34 million, while volume exports to Syria increased by 9.1 percent to 6.6 billion pieces worth $55.6 million.
Exports to Russia increased to 900.6 million pieces worth $9.8 million from 337.4 million pieces worth $4.1 million in 2017.
According to the National Statistics Committee, the production of cigarettes in 2018, at 31.6, was increased by 11 percent on that of the previous year.
About 85 percent of cigarettes produced in the country in 2018 were exported.