External merchandise trade decreased by 14.8% in January
External merchandise trade decreased by 14.8% in January

In January 2024 the external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia amounted to USD 1 341.3 million, 14.8 percent lower year-on-year,  the Georgian National Statistics Service (GeoStat) reported.

The exports equaled 338.6 million (26.2 percent lower), while the imports stood at USD 1 002.7 million (10.1 percent lower). The negative trade balance was USD 664.1 million in January 2024 and its share in external trade turnover constituted 49.5 percent.

The table below shows monthly data for 2022-2024 exports and imports in absolute values and their changes (in percentage) compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.

In January 2024 the share of the top ten trading partners by exports in the total exports of Georgia amounted to 80.8 percent. The top partners were Kyrgyzstan (USD 46.2 million), Russia (USD 41.6 million) and Azerbaijan (USD 40.9 million).

In January 2024 the share of the top ten trading partners by imports in the total imports of Georgia amounted to 70.0 percent. The top partners were Türkiye (USD 203.1 million), Russia (USD 148.4 million) and China (USD 76.4 million).

In January 2024 the share of the top ten trading partners in the total external trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 67.8 percent. The top trading partners were Türkiye (USD 232.6 million), Russia (USD 190.0 million) and China (USD 96.4 million).

In January 2024 motor cars claimed the first place in the list of top export items, equaling USD 112.0 million with 33.1 percent of total exports. The exports of ferro-alloys totaled USD 19.4 million and their share in the total exports amounted to 5.7 percent. The exports of wine of fresh grapes occupied the third place standing at USD 18.0 million and constituting 5.3 percent of the total exports.

The top import commodities in January 2024 were motor cars, whose imports equaled USD 101.4 million (10.1 percent of the total imports). The petroleum and petroleum oils followed in the list with USD 80.4 million (8.0 percent of imports). The Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons were third in the top import commodity list with USD 66.8 million (6.7 percent of imports).