17% increase in Georgia’s Foreign Trade Turnover

Georgia’s foreign trade turnover reached USD 4.6 billion for the first 9 months of 2010; that is 17 percent higher than in the same period of 2009, reports state statistics service “Geostat”.

The trade deficit was USD 2.41 billion in January-September of 2010, which is 5% more than during the same period last year.

Exports reached over USD 1 billion (34% higher than in 2009) and imports amounted to USD 3.5 billion (13% higher than in 2009).

Turkey remains Georgia’s largest trading partner with USD 770 million for the first 9 months of 2010, followed by Azerbaijan – USD 486 million; Ukraine – USD 445 million; the United States – USD 253.5 million; Germany – USD 250.4 million; China – USD 240.3 million; Russia – USD 222.6 million; Armenia – USD 146.2 million; Bulgaria – USD 126.9 million and United Arab Emirates – USD 126.1 million.

Ferro-alloys remained the number one Georgian export product, accounting for USD 177 million in the first 9 months of this year; followed by vehicle re-export with USD 153 million and scrap ferrous metal – USD 80 million.

Oil products and hydrocarbons top the list of imports amounting to USD 567.8 million; followed by vehicles – USD 231.2 million; medicines – USD 135.5 million and wheat – USD 103.9 million. (Prime-News)