EconomyIran becomes third biggest destination for Georgia's vehicle exportsby Helena Bedwell (Updated: 15 days ago )• 2 min readShare▲A car market in Rustavi. Photo: Sulkhan Bordzikashvili/OC Media.Iran rose to third as a destination for Georgia’s vehicle exports — behind only Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, according to Georgia’s National Statistics Office’s (Geostat) most recent report. An unprecedented volume of exports to Iran took place; 7,360 vehicles worth a combined $129 million were exported. By comparison, during the same period in 2025, only 10 vehicles were exported, worth $280,000. ‘It’s clear Russia is getting those cars via Kyrgyzstan and in 2024, there were almost none exported in Iran,’ Roman Gotsiridze, an economist and former opposition MP, told OC Media. ‘Iran, due to the blockade had no other way but to import cars from Georgia, they can not do it from Iran or Hormuz, any longer.’ In February 2026, the US and Israel started military action against Tehran. As a result, vehicle imports into Iran via traditional maritime routes declined. Geostat’s report could suggest that this demand was partially offset by increased re-exports from Georgia. There has also been a general increase in trade. Geostat said that from January to August 2026, Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in goods (excluding non-declared trade) reached $17.9 million — 8.4% more than in the same period in 2025. Out of this, exports amounted to $5.4 million, an increase of 22.1%, while imports amounted to $12.5 million, at an increase of 3.4%. The negative balance was $7 million, accounting for 39.5% of total foreign trade turnover. From January to August 2026, Georgia’s goods imports amounted to $12.5 billion, which is $400 million, or 3.4%, more than during the same period last year. Among imported goods, passenger cars ranked first, with imports totaling $2.36 billion. However, car imports declined by 12.5% year-on-year. Petroleum and petroleum products ranked second, at $1.16 billion, an increase of 37.4%. Pharmaceuticals ranked third, at $468.4 million, with imports increasing by 4.3%. Other major import categories included natural gas, with imports totaling $331.9 million, as well as crude oil and petroleum products, at $283.1 million. By export category, passenger cars remained in first place, although exports fell by 22% year-on-year to $1.35 billion. Petroleum and petroleum products ranked second, with exports reaching $688.9 million, compared with $59 million in January–August 2025, representing a 1,068% increase. Ores and concentrates of precious metals ranked third, at $403.1 million, an increase of 69%. Geostat also said that the domestic exports rose 63.5% to $3.286 billion, with locally produced goods making up 60.6% of total exports, up from 45.2% last year. The increase was driven partly by higher petroleum refining and exports. Petroleum products led domestic exports at 19.8%, followed by precious metal ores and concentrates and ferroalloys. Meanwhile, wine and other alcoholic beverage exports declined. Helena Bedwell is a veteran journalist of 30 years, splitting her time between Norfolk, UK and Tbilisi, Georgia. She mainly focuses on financial stories, the government, the economy, lifestyle, and banking in Georgia. She also holds child development and psychology diplomas and is a certified translator and interpreter registered in the UK.