Georgian wine remains dangerously concentrated in the Russian market, according to a report by the Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC), a non-governmental organization.
As noted in the analytical report, amid severe problems in the Russian economy 18 years after the 2008 war, Georgia’s economy, individual sectors, and vital industries remain heavily dependent on Russia.
Drawing on statistical data, the organization examines the economic risks facing the country under these conditions, highlighting that a single country accounts for 59.7% of all wine export revenues.
According to the report, beyond economic risks, this creates potential leverage for political pressure—a vulnerability Georgia previously experienced during the 2006 embargo.
In the first half of 2026, Georgian exports to Russia totaled $332 million, remaining virtually unchanged (-0.1%) compared to the same period in 2025. Russia was Georgia’s fourth-largest export market, accounting for an 8.6% share of total exports.
Based on 2025 figures, exports to Russia still consist primarily of agricultural products: natural grape wine ($69.9 million), spirits ($52.4 million), mineral and fresh water ($46.4 million), fruits, nuts, and plant-based products ($31.7 million), and fresh fruits ($27.1 million). The total value of these five commodity groups reached $227.5 million, accounting for approximately 68.5% of all exports to Russia. This indicates that exports are heavily concentrated, relying not only on a single market but also on a handful of specific products.
Wine deserves special attention, as winemaking in Georgia carries significant social weight alongside its economic importance. Thousands of viticulturists and hundreds of individuals and companies involved in wine production depend on it. Against this backdrop, in January–June 2026, Russia once again accounted for 59.7% of Georgian wine exports. Although wine exports to Russia declined by roughly 4% year-on-year, the country’s dominant market position remained virtually unchanged.
The issue is not merely the sheer size of the Russian market, but the high concentration of Georgian wine exports within a single country. Under these circumstances, any political decision, trade restriction, ruble devaluation, or economic decline in Russia directly impacts the earnings of Georgian winemakers.
Historical experience reinforces this risk. Russia has repeatedly used trade and sanitary restrictions as a tool of political pressure—most notably against Georgia in 2006, and against Armenia in recent months.
“Regarding actual export figures to Russia, preliminary data for January–June 2026 shows that Georgia’s top three export partners were Kyrgyzstan ($431.8 million), China ($428.6 million), and Azerbaijan ($335.9 million). It should be noted that a significant portion of the motor vehicles and other major goods re-exported to Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan are, in all likelihood, ultimately destined for the Russian market. Thus, it is hardly coincidental that Kyrgyzstan emerged among Georgia’s top ten export destinations only after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war,” the EPRC report notes.