Georgia’s external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) amounted to $14.2bn in the period January-July 2025, a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This is according to preliminary data published by Georgia’s National Statistics Office (Geostat) on August 19.

Exports in January-July 2025 totalled $3.8bn, an “all-time high” as reported by the Georgian Public Broadcaster, and marking a 9% y/y increase.

Imports during the same period increased by 11% y/y, amounting to $10.3bn, though the Public Broadcaster noted that imports in July alone declined by 7%, totalling $1.5mn.

Georgia’s trade deficit in January-July 2025 was $6.5bn, constituting 46% of foreign trade turnover.

The top trading partners by turnover were Turkey ($1.8bn, 12% of the total turnover of $14.2bn), the US ($1.6bn, 11% of the total) and Russia ($1.5mn, 11% of the total).

Throughout the recorded period the share of the top ten trading partners in Georgia’s total foreign trade amounted to 69.1%.

 

Imports

In January-July 2025, 25% of Georgian imports came from EU countries, 18% from Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, and 57% from other countries.

Georgia’s top trading partners by imports were Turkey ($1.6bn, 15% of total imports, marking a 2% increase y/y), the US ($1.6bn, 15% of total imports, a 40% increase y/y) and Russia ($1.1bn, 11% of the total, a 7% increase y/y).

Significantly, Georgian imports from China grew 21% y/y, totalling $1.1bn and comprising 10% of total imports.

The top imported commodities in January-July 2025 were cars ($2.1bn, 20% of total imports, marking a 10% increase y/y), petroleum and petroleum oils ($727.6mn, 7% of the total, marking a 6% decrease y/y), and paintings, drawings and pastels (executed entirely by hand) ($481.3mn, 5% of total imports, marking a 244,469% increase y/y).

Although the importer of the paintings is unknown, many in Georgia suspect the billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been bringing artwork into the country from the UK to add to his personal collection.

 

Exports

In January-April 2025, 70% of Georgian exports went to CIS countries, 11% to EU countries, and 19% to other countries.

Georgia’s top trading partners by exports were Kyrgyzstan ($815.5mn, 21% of total exports, marking a 40% y/y increase), Kazakhstan ($494.8.4mn, 13% of the total, an 11% y/y rise) and Russia ($412mn, 11% of the total, a 1% increase y/y).

Notably, Georgian exports to Turkey, its sixth largest partner by exports, dropped 32% y/y during the recorded period, totalling $196.2 and comprising 5% of total exports.

Meanwhile, exports to Uzbekistan, Georgia’s 9^th largest partner by exports, jumped 57% to $103.9mn, 3% of total exports.

Cars also topped exports at $1.5bn, accounting for 39% of the total and marking a 24% increase y/y. The second biggest commodity by exports was precious metal ores and concentrates at $202.9mn, 5% of total imports and up 73% y/y. Third was spirituous beverages, equalling $148.1mn, 4% of the total and marking a 9% drop y/y.

Exported wine of fresh grapes totalled $145.4mn, accounting for 4% of total exports and marking a significant 17% drop y/y.

The export of ferro-alloys also decreased notably, in this case by 47% y/y, totalling $107.4mn, 3% of total exports.