BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 4.
Georgia's merchandise exports expanded at their fastest monthly
pace this year in July 2026, even as the country's overall trade
deficit widened slightly compared with the same month last
year.
This was indicated by Trend's calculations, based on data published
by the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
According to Geostat, exports of goods reached
$4,670.2 million on a cumulative basis in January-July 2026, up
21.6% year-on-year, while imports totaled $10,849.0 million, up
2.4%. External merchandise trade turnover amounted to $15,519.2
million, an increase of 7.5%.
Isolating July alone by comparing the new cumulative
figures with Geostat's previously published January-June data,
Trend calculations show that exports rose to roughly $793.5 million
in July, up nearly 30% year-on-year — well above the 21.6% average
pace recorded over the full seven-month period.
Imports followed a similar trend, reaching an
estimated $1,800.2 million in July, up around 12% year-on-year,
also outpacing the 2.4% cumulative growth rate, Trend's calculations
show.
As a result, Georgia's trade deficit for July alone is
estimated at roughly $1,006.7 million, slightly wider than the
approximately $995.7 million recorded in July 2025. This came even
as the cumulative January-July trade deficit of $6,178.8 million
was about 8.5% narrower than the same period last year, reflecting
the strong export growth recorded earlier in 2026.
For reference, Georgia's exports have been supported
this year by strong shipments of oil and petroleum products,
precious metal ores, and ferroalloys, according to earlier Geostat
data, while imports have remained elevated amid steady domestic
demand. The National Bank of Georgia has kept its monetary policy
rate at 8.25% since April, citing external risks including volatile
global energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
