Georgia’s top trading partners: Turkey, Azerbaijan and China

The value of Georgia’s exports and imports (External Merchandise Trade) experienced a slight downward trend in the first four months of 2015 in comparison to 2014, claims preliminary data published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

In January-April 2015, external merchandise trade (excluding non-organised trade) in Georgia amounted to just over $3 billion USD; a 13 percent decreased year-on-year (y/y).

In the same time exports equalled $689 million (26 percent lower), while the imports stood at $2.3 billion (8 percent lower).

The Geostat preliminary data revealed a negative trade balance of $1.6 billion in January-April 2015 and its share in external trade turnover constituted 54 percent.

Georgia’s trade with EU countries

In the first four months of 2015 Georgia’s external trade with EU countries amounted to $838 million; a drop of seven percent compared to the same time in 2014.

Exports amounted to $206 million (6 percent higher), while imports amounted to $632 million (10 percent lower). The share of these countries in the external trade of Georgia amounted to 28 percent; 30 percent in exports and 27 percent in imports. In comparison, in 2104 these figures were 26, 21 and 28 percent respectively.

Georgia’s trade with CIS countries

The first four months of 2015 saw the external trade of Georgia with CIS countries total $897 million – a drop of 24 percent y/y. Exports stood at $250 million (51 percent lower), while imports equalled $647 million (3 percent lower).

CIS countries’ share in the external trade of Georgia constituted 30 percent; 36 percent in exports and 28 percent in imports. In 2014 these figures were 34, 55 and 27 percent, respectively).

In January-April 2015, CIS countries accounted for 24 percent of the overall trade deficit, while this figure was 10 percent in January-April 2014.

Georgia’s top 10 trading partners

In the first four months of 2015, Georgia’s top trading partners were Turkey ($476 million), Azerbaijan ($290million) and China ($248 million).

The share of the country’s top 10 trading partners in the total external trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 67 percent.

Major commodity groups by exports and imports

Copper ores and concentrates reclaimed first place in the list of top exported items, equalling $86 million or 12 percent of total exports.

Exports of motor cars totalled $73 million and its share in total exports amounted to 11 percent in January-April 2015.

Geostat revealed ferroalloys occupied third place in terms of top exported items. Exports of this commodity stood at $73 million and 11 percent of Georgia’s total exports.

The top import commodity in January-April 2015 was petroleum and petroleum oils; imports of which amounted to $184 million and eight percent of total imports. Meanwhile petroleum gases and other gaseous commodities followed next in the list with $179 million, or eight percent of imports.

Motor cars came third with $175 million, or eight percent of all imports. (Agenda.ge)