Georgia's publishing industry is facing mounting cost pressures as higher paper prices, rising transportation expenses, and weaker consumer purchasing power weigh on the sector, according to Ana Kiasashvili, co-founder and director of Meduza Publishing.
Speaking to BMGTV, Kiasashvili said publishing is closely tied to the broader economy and cannot avoid the challenges affecting other industries. She noted that Meduza, which prints its books in Türkiye, has seen production costs increase after printing houses raised prices due to higher global paper costs, while transport expenses have also climbed alongside fuel prices.
Although the publisher has tried to limit the impact on readers, Meduza has been forced to raise book prices by around GEL 1–1.5 per copy this year. Kiasashvili said the company is seeking to balance financial sustainability with keeping books affordable, despite the difficult economic environment.
To strengthen sales, Meduza recently launched its own online store, Meduzabooks.ge, allowing customers to buy books directly from the publisher. The company also plans to expand into e-books in the future, while audiobook production remains a longer-term goal due to the additional investment required.
