Page 25 - GEORptNov18

this year.
Georgia’s exports increased by 17% y/y to $301mn in September and by a visibly more robust 27.1% y/y pace to $3.24bn in the rolling 12-month period. Its exports mainly derive from its mineral resources, but car production has increased at an outstanding rate as well. Georgia’s main export items are copper ores (14.9% of January-August exports, up 15% y/y), motor cars (11.3% of exports, up 98% y/y) and ferro-alloys (10.7% of exports, up 10% y/y).
Imports increased by only 3.3% y/y to $711mn in September and by 17.4% y/y to $9.00bn in the rolling 12-month period. The slower growth (compared to exports) pushed down the trade gap in September (-4.9% y/y), but the 12-month trade gap keeps widening. It expanded by 12.6% y/y in the 12-month period. The main import items were petroleum products (9.7% of the January-August imports) and motor cars (6.5%).
25 GEORGIA Country Report November 2018 www.intellinews.com