Georgia’s export growth in the first half of 2025 was driven mainly by external developments rather than the government’s economic policies, according to economist Rati Tsiklauri. Speaking on BMGTV, he said the increase was largely fueled by the Russia–Ukraine war, the operations of the Kulevi oil refinery, and higher global commodity prices.
Tsiklauri said vehicle re-exports have been the main driver of export growth since 2022, as Georgia became a key logistics route for the Russian market. However, he noted that the trend is weakening after Russia introduced new import restrictions and taxes on vehicles. According to May data, vehicle re-exports fell by 24%, reducing a major source of export revenue.
He also highlighted the Kulevi oil refinery as a significant contributor to export growth and said higher global prices for gold, copper, and nitrogen fertilizers have boosted the value of Georgian exports. Exports in these categories increased by nearly 87–88% in May, largely due to rising international prices.
Tsiklauri concluded that Georgia’s economy is currently benefiting more from global events than from domestic economic policy. “We did not refuse to benefit from the wars,” he said, arguing that the country’s export growth reflects favorable external conditions rather than the effectiveness of government economic decisions.
