Georgia increases agricultural exports to EU and US

The amount of Georgian agricultural products exported to the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) is increasing, says the country’s Ministry of Agriculture.

Georgia’s leading exports - wine and spirits, hazelnuts and mineral waters – are being enjoyed by more people in the EU and the US – two of the world’s largest consumer markets – adding value back into Georgia’s economy.

The country’s Ministry of Agriculture published data stating exports of Georgian agricultural products to the US increased by 21 percent in January-July 2015 compared to the same period of 2014. Similarly, this year’s figures were 43 percent higher than the same period of 2013 and 96 percent higher than in 2012.

The most popular exported products to the US were fruit and vegetable juices, mineral waters, natural grape wines and spirits.

The value of exports to the US in the first seven months of 2015 amounted to $3.48 million USD.

The Ministry data revealed similar results for Georgian exports to the EU. In the first seven months of 2015 Georgian exports amounted to $100.5 million USD, which was 84 percent more than in 2014 and 149 percent higher than the same period of 2013.

The top exported products were hazelnuts, mineral waters, natural grape wines and spirits.

The Ministry noted 33 percent of all Georgian exports in the first seven months of 2015 went to EU countries.