Foreign trade of Russia and Georgia

The main articles are:

• Economy of Georgia
• Russia's Foreign Trade

Chronicle

2024

Trade turnover of Russia and Georgia for the year increased by 5.4% to $2.53 billion

The turnover between Russia Georgia and in 2024 amounted to $2.53 billion, an increase of 5.4% compared to 2023. The National Statistics Service Georgia TAdviser got acquainted with such data in January 2025.

According to Interfax, in 2024, Georgian exports to Russia increased by 3.7%, reaching $681.5 million, while imports from Russia increased by 6%, amounting to $1.85 billion. However, in foreign trade with Russia, Georgia continues to have a negative balance, which in 2024 amounted to $1.17 billion, an increase of 7.4% compared to the previous 2023. Russia occupies an important place in the structure of Georgia's foreign trade: it ranks fourth in the country's exports, and third in imports.

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Фото: Unsplash

In the structure of Georgian exports to Russia, the largest volumes are wines, the supply of which in value terms increased by 8.5%, reaching $182.6 million. In physical terms, the growth was 7.1%, which is equivalent to 66.7 thousand tons of wine. Exports of other alcoholic beverages also showed significant growth: an increase of 2.3 times, which in monetary terms amounted to $154.8 million, and in natural terms - 39.85 thousand tons.

Positive dynamics is also observed in the export of mineral water, which increased by 24.4%, amounting to $76.92 million, and the volume of supplies in physical terms increased by 25.8%, reaching 141.4 thousand tons. At the same time, supplies of carbonated water with sugar increased by only 1.5%, reaching $61.66 million, although in physical terms this figure decreased by 7.7%, to 69.94 thousand tons. Fruit exports from Georgia to Russia grew by 14.1%, amounting to $32.24 million, which is equivalent to 29.4 thousand tons.

Supplies of oil and petroleum products decreased by 5.9%, amounting to $519.5 million, which in physical terms corresponds to 698.1 thousand tons. At the same time, imports of gaseous hydrocarbons from Russia increased by 37.9%, amounting to $180.94 million, which is equivalent to 650.7 thousand tons. The import of carbon steel bars also increased significantly, which doubled to $114.5 million (199.8 thousand tons).

Wheat and meslin supplies to Georgia increased by 34.6%, amounting to $75.69 million, which is equivalent to 324.8 thousand tons. Vegetable oil imported from Russia also showed an increase of 13.8%, reaching $44.57 million, which corresponds to 41.8 thousand tons. In general, imports of other goods to Georgia from Russia increased by 0.7%, amounting to $914.6 million.^[1]

Russia increased beer exports to Georgia by 41.2% to 2.6 million liters and ranked second

Russia delivered more than 2.6 million liters of beer to Georgia in 2024, which is 41.2% more than in 2023. Such data in February 2025 was published by the Georgian National Statistics Service. This volume was a record for the entire supply history and allowed Russia to take second place among the countries exporting beer to Georgia.

According to TASS, an analysis of statistical data over the past 16 years shows that the volume of supplies of Russian beer to Georgia overcame the mark of 2 million liters only in 2009, 2022 and 2024. In 2009, imports amounted to 2.27 million liters, after which they sharply decreased to 148 thousand liters in 2010.

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Фото: Unsplash

In the next nine years, deliveries ranged from 1 million to 1.55 million liters. In 2020, the volume of imports decreased to 846.1 thousand liters. Then there was a gradual increase - to 1.39 million liters in 2021 and 2.14 million liters in 2022. In 2023, the figure was 1.84 million liters.

Total beer imports to Georgia reached 15.4 million liters worth more than $17.1 million in 2024, an increase of 32.6% compared to 2023. Germany became the leader in supplies with a volume of more than 4.7 million liters. In third place is Turkey with an indicator of 2.31 million liters, in fourth - the Czech Republic with 1.04 million liters, closes the top five largest exporters Ukraine with 939.4 thousand liters.

In the import structure, non-alcoholic beer amounted to 707.9 thousand liters, of which 302.3 thousand liters came from Russia. Georgia also actively exports beer products. The main buyer was Kazakhstan, which purchased 1.82 million liters worth $1.9 million. In second place is Armenia with a volume of 1.03 million liters.

Russia ranked third among importers of Georgian beer, purchasing 483.4 thousand liters in 2024. This is 1.5 times less than in 2023. The total volume of beer exports from Georgia amounted to 5.87 million liters in the amount of $7 million.^[2]

Imports of furniture from the Russian Federation to Georgia jumped by 44.5% to 1,832,96 tons in a year

In early February 2025, it became known that the national statistics service of Georgia recorded a record indicator of imports of furniture products from Russia in January 2024 - the volume of supplies reached 1,832,96 tons, which is 44.5% higher than in 2023. The total cost of imported products amounted to $3.6 million, according to official data from the statistical department.

According to TASS, the analysis of statistics on the supply of furniture products from Russia to Georgia demonstrates a consistent increase in volumes since 2018, when the republic imported 1,017,61 tons of products. In the previous period, in 2017, the volume of supplies amounted to only 577.3 tons, which indicates a significant increase in trade relations between countries in this segment in recent years.

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Фото: Unsplash

In the import structure, the key position is occupied by wooden sleeping furniture, the supply of which in 2024 reached 568.72 tons in the amount of $953.95 thousand. For comparison, in 2023, 396.67 tons of similar products were imported to Georgia with a total value of $695.38 thousand. The statistical department notes a significant increase in supplies in this category.

The National Statistics Service of Georgia emphasizes that furniture components and parts also account for a significant share in the import structure. In 2024, their deliveries exceeded 201 tons, showing an increase of 8.6% compared to the previous period. The total cost of imported components reached $302.55 thousand.

An analysis of historical data available in the statistical service since 2009 shows that the only significant decrease in supply volumes was observed in 2020-2021, when imports fell below 1 thousand tons. This decrease was due to restrictions related to the pandemic. In subsequent years, the indicators showed steady growth, which led to the current record values.^[3]

Georgian wine supplies to Russia increased by 8.5% to $182.6 million

In 2024, the export of grape wines from Georgia reached $274.7 million, which is 6.6% more compared to the previous year earlier. This is evidenced by data from the country's National Statistics Service, which was released in January 2025.

Russia continues to play a key role in the structure of wine exports, which accounts for 66% of all supplies. In 2024, the supply of Georgian wine to the Russian Federation increased by 8.5%, reaching $182.6 million. Exports of other alcoholic beverages from Georgia to Russia in 2024 increased 2.3 times, reaching $155 million.

2023

Reduction of trade with Russia to $2.5 billion

The trade turnover of Georgia and Russia in 2023 decreased by 3% compared to the previous year and amounted to $2.5 billion. This is evidenced by the data of the National Statistics Service of Georgia, released in January 2024.

According to the TASS news agency, citing materials from the department, Russia in 2023 took second place among the countries with the largest trade with Georgia. In the first position is Turkey.

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Фото: Unsplash

In 2023, exports of goods from Georgia to Russia increased by 2.2% (to $657 million), and the volume of imports, on the contrary, decreased by 5% (to $1.8 billion).

The trade turnover of Georgia and Turkey in 2023 reached $3 billion, an increase of 6% compared to the previous year. Trade turnover between Georgia and the United States in 2023 increased by 60% compared to 2022 - to more than $2 billion.

After the United States, China (trade in 2023 - more than $1.6 billion), Azerbaijan (more than $1.5 billion) and Armenia (more than $1.1 billion) are on the list of Georgia's largest trading partners.

The total foreign trade turnover of Georgia at the end of 2023 exceeded $21.5 billion, an increase of 12.5% on an annualized basis. Exports amounted to more than $6 billion (an increase of 9.1%), and imports - more than $15 billion (an increase of 14%). The negative balance of the foreign trade balance for 12 months of 2023 exceeded $9.3 billion.

According to Doctor of Economics, Professor and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Leonid Kholod, Russia exports to Georgia mainly coal, gas, oil, wheat, flour, glass containers, and Georgia sells to Russia mainly wines, wine materials, alcohol materials, mineral water, lemonades and other soft drinks. In addition, Georgia has become a major supplier of parallel imports, the expert noted.^[4]

54% of Georgian exports of mineral and spring waters for the year fell on Russia

In 2023, 112 tons of mineral and spring waters worth $62 million were delivered to Russia from Georgia, which corresponds to more than half (54%) of the export of such products from Georgia. This is evidenced by data from the National Statistics Service (Geostat).

The three countries in terms of the volume of Georgian mineral and spring waters imported in 2023 included Kazakhstan (33 tons for $25 million) and Ukraine (18 tons for $14 million). Next are Lithuania and Uzbekistan with indicators of 11 tons/$ 8 million and 8 tons/$ 7 million, respectively.

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Фото: Borjomi.ru

Thus, despite the sanctions, Russia remains a key importer of Georgian mineral water. According to RBC, Russia traditionally increases imports of drinking and mineral water on the eve of the New Year. According to the Honest Sign labeling system, Georgia was a key exporter to Russia of these products in 2022, then it accounted for more than 70% of imports.

As Geostat noted on February 18, 2024, over the past two years, due to changes in market conditions, the export of Georgian mineral water has decreased by 21%. In 2021, it reached a peak of 260 tons for $142 million. In 2022, it amounted to 205 tons for $113 million, and in 2023 - a little more than 185 tons.

The basis of export is the popular Georgian brands "Borjomi" and "Nabeglavi." As for the import of mineral and spring waters to Georgia, in 2023 it decreased by 715% - to 280 tons by $145 thousand from 2284 tons by $1.1 million. The reasons for such a sharp drop in imports are not called.

The main importing countries of "mineral matter" to Georgia in 2023 were, Italy,, and Turkey. France Germany At the same time in 2022 were in the lead and, Ukraine but in Israel the 2023rd these countries sharply reduced supply of mineral and spring waters to Georgia because of military operations in both countries, explained in Geostat.^[5]

Growth of wine exports to Russia by 50% in the first quarter

From January to March 2023, Georgia exported more than 13 thousand tons of wine to Russia, which is 1.5 times more than the same indicator in 2022.

2022

Russia came in second place among the largest trading partners of Georgia with a turnover of $2.4 billion with an increase of 52%

In 2022, Russia's share in Georgia's foreign trade amounted to 13.1%. The trade turnover of Georgia and Russia in 2022 exceeded $2.4 billion, which is 52% more than 2021, - Gruzstat.

In 2022, Georgia exported to the Russian Federation more than 73 thousand tons of natural wines (over $160 million), more than 57 thousand tons of ferroalloys worth over $108 million, more than 5.3 thousand cars (more than $75 million), more than 12 thousand tons of alcoholic beverages (more than $56 million), more than 92 thousand tons of mineral and fresh water (more than $50 million).

Trade turnover with Russia for 9 months increased by 50% to $1.7 billion

The trade turnover of Georgia and Russia for 9 months of 2022 amounted to more than $1.7 billion, which is 50% more than the same period in 2021. Russia is in second place among Georgia's largest trading partners after Turkey. China is in third place. In January-September, Russia's share in Georgia's foreign trade amounted to 12.6%.

In January - September, Georgia exported to the Russian Federation more than 44 thousand tons of natural wines (over $109 million), more than 54 thousand tons of ferroalloys worth over $105 million, more than 3.2 thousand cars (more than $45.7 million), more than 7.6 thousand tons of alcoholic beverages (more than $40 million), over 63 thousand tons of mineral and fresh water (about $35 million).

Contrary to Western sanctions, Georgian exports grew by 11%, and imports into the country from Russia increased by 160%. Georgia actively purchases Russian gas and oil products, coal coke, flour and grain.

Growth in trade with the United States and the EU due to circumvention of sanctions against the Russian Federation

The rapid growth of trade flows USA EU with neighbors Russia may be a sign that sanctions can be avoided, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development believes.

German exports to Russia from May to July 2022 fell 38% compared to the average for the same period in 2017-2019. However, it almost doubled to Armenia and more than tripled to Kyrgyzstan - a trend also seen in trade flows to the Caucasus and Central Asia from the US, Britain and EU countries.

2020:57% of citrus exports go to Russia

The results of 2020 show that in one of its most famous foreign markets, in the supply of tangerines, Georgia remains directly dependent on Russia. This season, more than 57% of citrus fruits exported by Georgia fell into the Russian Federation. Georgian tangerines are still not allowed into Europe, despite the free trade agreement.

Notes