Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia’s fuel market has become significantly more resilient after reforms that dismantled monopolies and increased competition among importers. Responding to concerns over potential fuel shortages amid recent restrictions in Russia's fuel market and Armenia's dependence on Russian imports, Pashinyan argued that diversification has reduced vulnerabilities by replacing reliance on a handful of suppliers with a broader network of importers.

He said dozens of companies now import gasoline into Armenia, bringing new investment and expanding fuel station networks — changes that have prevented the supply disruptions previously seen whenever external shocks hit the sector. While confident that market mechanisms would ensure stable supplies, Pashinyan acknowledged that Armenia cannot shield itself from global fuel price fluctuations, noting that any future price increases would mainly reflect international market developments rather than domestic supply constraints.

Separately, Pashinyan announced that the European Commission has approved autonomous trade measures allowing a broad range of Armenian products to enter the European Union duty-free. The regime is expected to cover around 80% of Armenia’s potential exports, including roughly 99% of agricultural products and about 90% of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, though the final product list is still being drawn up.

Pashinyan noted that the initiative still requires formal approval by EU member states and adoption by the European Parliament, but said the political decision has effectively been made. He stressed that the government must now work closely with the private sector so Armenian producers can fully capitalize on the expanded EU market access. The announcement follows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s working visit to Armenia on July 2, during which the two sides agreed to further deepen economic and trade cooperation.