Georgia Trade Deficit Widens to 9-Month High in September

Georgia’s trade deficit widened to USD 1,074.4 million in September 2026 from USD 862.5 million in the same month a year earlier, marking the largest deficit since December 2025. Exports increased 4.0% year-on-year to USD 731.5 million, while imports rose at a faster pace of 15.3% to USD 1,805.9 million. During the January–September period, exports surged 19.6% to USD 6,153.2 million, primarily driven by petroleum and petroleum oils (1,192.5%) and precious metal ores and concentrates (68.0%). Meanwhile, imports rose 5.3% to USD 14,382.0 million, supported by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum oils (44.5%) and crude petroleum and petroleum oils, despite a decline in motor car imports (-13.3%). Imports recorded the largest increases from Russia (21.7%) and China (21.8%). Georgia’s trade deficit for the January–September period narrowed to USD 8,228.8 million from USD 8,513.2 million in the same period of 2025.

Georgia’s trade deficit narrowed to USD 809.9 million in August 2026 from USD 894.4 million in the same month last year, marking the smallest trade shortfall since January. Outbound shipments climbed 24.8% year-on-year to USD 752.4 million, while imports increased at a much slower pace of 4.3% to a four-month low of USD 1,562.2 million. During the January–August period, exports surged 22.1% to USD 5,422.5 million, primarily driven by petroleum and petroleum oils (1,067.7%) and precious metal ores and concentrates (68.6%). Export growth was particularly strong to China (177.3%) and Russia (4.1%). Meanwhile, imports rose 3.4% to USD 12,504.4 million, supported by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum oils (37.4%), despite a decline in imports of motor cars (-12.5%). Imports recorded the largest increases from Russia (24.9%) and China (22.1%). Georgia’s trade deficit for the January–August period narrowed to USD 7,081.9 million from USD 7,650.7 million in the same period of 2025.

Georgia’s trade deficit narrowed to USD 909.1 million in July 2026 from USD 998.8 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports climbed 30% year-on-year to USD 793.9 million, while imports increased 5.8% to USD 1,703 million. In the January-July period, exports rose 21.6% to USD 4,670.2 million, driven by higher sales of oil and petroleum products (1,052%) and copper ores and concentrates (310.8%), while passenger cars declined 21.5%, though they remained the country’s top export product. Exports rose most to China (166.4%), Russia (6.2%), and Armenia (31.2%). Meanwhile, imports increased 2.4% to USD 10,849 million, supported by higher purchases of oil and petroleum products (32.7%) and medications (6.5%), while passenger cars fell 12.8%, though they also remained the most imported product. Imports rose most from China (22.3%), Russia (26.5%), and Turkey (5%). The country’s trade deficit for the January-July period narrowed to USD 6,178.9 million from USD 6,756.4 million last year.