Georgia’s Imports of Russian Beer Reach Record 2,517.3 Tonnes
Georgia imported 2,517.3 tonnes of Russian beer worth $2.3 million in January-July 2026, 1.5 times the year-earlier volume. Russia became Georgia’s third-largest foreign beer supplier, while Georgian beer exports fell 34.7%.
Russian shipments rise by half
Georgia imported a record 2,517.3 tonnes of Russian beer worth $2.3 million during January-July 2026, according to Georgian National Statistics Office data analyzed by TASS. The volume was 1.5 times the 1,697.2 tonnes recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The acceleration was particularly visible at the end of the seven-month period. Imports from Russia exceeded 537 tonnes in July, 1.8 times the level registered in July 2025. June produced the highest monthly result, with shipments reaching 621.7 tonnes.
Based on the reported value and volume, Russian beer entered Georgia at an average customs value of roughly $914 per tonne during the period. This calculation does not represent a retail price and may reflect differences in product mix, packaging and transport terms.
Russia becomes the third-largest supplier
Georgia’s total beer imports reached 14,900 tonnes worth $18.6 million in January-July. Overall inbound volume increased 25.5% from the same period of 2025, showing that the rise in Russian deliveries formed part of a broader expansion of Georgia’s imported beer market.
Germany remained the leading supplier with 4,300 tonnes, followed by the Netherlands with 3,200 tonnes. Russia ranked third with about 2,500 tonnes, ahead of Ukraine at 786 tonnes, Spain at 693.2 tonnes and the Czech Republic at 650.3 tonnes. Russian beer therefore accounted for approximately 17% of Georgia’s total import volume, based on the published figures.
The supplier ranking leaves the Georgian market relatively diversified, although the three largest origins together provided about two-thirds of imported volume. For brewers and distributors, the June and July shipment figures indicate that Russian products gained shelf and inventory presence during the period of stronger seasonal beer demand.
Georgia’s beer exports contract
The expansion in imports contrasted with a decline in Georgia’s own beer exports. The country shipped 2,400 tonnes worth $2.8 million to foreign markets in January-July, a decrease of 34.7% from the corresponding 2025 result. Import volume was therefore more than six times export volume during the seven months.
Russia was also the largest buyer of Georgian beer. Deliveries to the Russian market reached 649.6 tonnes, rising 20.9% year on year. Other destinations included Armenia with 447.5 tonnes, Israel with 434.6 tonnes, Latvia with 163 tonnes, Germany with 116.8 tonnes and China with 107.8 tonnes.
The figures show beer moving in both directions between Georgia and Russia, but on substantially different scales. Georgia imported nearly four times as much Russian beer as it exported to Russia. For Georgian producers, growth in the Russian destination did not offset weaker aggregate exports, while importers benefited from a domestic market in which total foreign beer purchases continued to expand.
