In January-March 2019, the external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia amounted to USD 2 807.3 million, 0.1 percent lower year-on-year. The exports reached USD 826.0 million (12.8 percent higher), while the imports stood at USD 1 981.3 million (4.7 percent lower). The negative trade balance was USD 1 155.3 million in January-March 2019 and its share in external trade turnover constituted 41.2 percent. The exports excluding re-exports amounted to USD 553.1 million, 4.5 percent higher year-on-year.

In January-March the exports from Georgia to the EU countries amounted to USD 196.0 million (6.4 percent lower compared to January-March 2018) and constituted 23.7 percent of total exports, while the imports amounted to USD 502.2 million (17.8 percent lower) with 25.3 percent in total imports.

The external trade turnover of Georgia with the EU countries amounted to USD 698.1 million, showing a 14.9 percent decrease compared to the corresponding indicator of the previous year. The EU countries accounted for 26.5 percent of the trade deficit. In January-March 2019 the exports to the CIS countries stood at USD 416.1 million (37.4 percent higher compared to January-March 2018) and reached 50.4 percent of total exports, while the imports equaled USD 576.1 million (13.5 percent lower) with 29.1 percent in total import. The trade turnover with the CIS countries totaled USD 992.2 million (2.4 percent higher). The CIS countries accounted for 13.8 percent of the overall trade deficit in the corresponding period.

During the reporter period, the share of the top ten trading partners by exports in the total exports of Georgia amounted to 74.2 percent. The top partners were Russia (USD 135.4 million), Azerbaijan (USD 84.9 million) and Bulgaria (USD 68.1 million).

The share of the top ten trading partners by imports in the total imports of Georgia amounted to 67.7 percent. The top partners were Turkey (USD 316.0 million), China (USD 221.8 million) and Russia (USD 191.7 million).

In January-March the share of the top ten trading partners in the total external trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 68.8 percent. The top trading partners were Turkey (USD 373.3 million), Russia (USD 327.0 million) and Azerbaijan (USD 272.5 million).

Copper ores and concentrates reclaimed the first place in the list of top export items, equaling USD 135.6 million, or 16.4 percent of total exports. The exports of motor cars totaled USD 99.1 million and their share in the total exports amounted to 12.0 percent. The ferroalloys exports occupied the third place standing at USD 95.6 million and constituting 11.6 percent of the total exports.

The top import commodities were petroleum and petroleum oils, amounting to USD 150.4 million (7.6 percent of the total imports). The petroleum gases followed in the list with USD 131.5 million, or 6.6 percent of imports. The Copper ores and concentrates were third in the top import commodity list with USD 120.2 million (6.1 percent of imports).