BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 18. Georgia’s foreign trade turnover reached $15.5 billion in January–July 2026, increasing by 7.5% year-on-year, as export growth significantly outpaced import expansion.
This is reflected in the statement published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia.
"External Merchandise Trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia amounted to $15.5 million in January-July 2026, 7.5% higher year-on-year. The value of exports increased by 21.6%, reaching $4.7 million, while imports increased by 2.4% and amounted to $10.8 million. The trade deficit equaled $6.2 million, and its share in trade turnover constituted 39.8%," the statement says.
The structure of Georgia’s external trade showed a shift toward stronger export performance in the first seven months of 2026. Trend’s calculations show that exports accounted for 30.1% of total trade turnover, while imports represented 69.9%.
The export growth rate was almost nine times higher than import growth in annual terms, with exports increasing by 21.6% compared with a 2.4% rise in imports. As a result, the import coverage ratio — the share of imports financed by export revenues — reached 43% during the period. Trend’s calculations note that Georgia exported an average of approximately $667 million worth of goods per month in the period from January through July 2026, while average monthly imports amounted to around $1.55 billion. The average monthly trade gap stood at about $883 million.
Monthly data also indicates a gradual strengthening of export activity throughout the year. After January exports of $480.3 million, shipments increased steadily to $792.4 million in July, representing growth of almost 65% over the period. The acceleration was also visible in the second quarter and early summer months. From June through July, exports increased by 2.8%, while imports grew by 2.3%, keeping overall trade expansion balanced.
The figures underline the growing importance of export-oriented sectors and Georgia’s role as a regional trade and logistics hub connecting European and Asian markets. The country’s position along the Middle Corridor continues to support trade flows and increase the attractiveness of transport, logistics and related services.
At the same time, the trade structure shows that imports remain a major component of Georgia’s external commerce. The calculations indicate that imports were approximately 2.3 times larger than exports during the reporting period, highlighting the importance of expanding domestic production and increasing the share of higher value-added exports.
