After the hazelnut production decreased with the brown skunk infestation in Georgia in 2017, Georgia broke a record by increasing its nut, vegetable and fruit exports by $229 million in 2021.
Georgia to Russia in 2021; It increased its exports to Russia to 90 million dollars by making 3 times more than the average of exports between 2014-2020.
Although Georgia's hazelnut exports have recovered since the brown skunk infestation, they are still about 2 times lower than in 2016 before the invasion. While hazelnut exports around the world in 2021 were interrupted due to adverse weather conditions and crisis in Turkey (the largest hazelnut producer); Georgia's record high export revenue from fruit, nut and vegetable sales in 2021 was mostly driven by increased exports of other products rather than hazelnuts.
Related Products
Georgia's shelled hazelnut exports decreased by 77 million dollars compared to 2016. Compared to 2016, the increase in exports was +9 million dollars in tangerines, +8 million dollars in apples, +6 million dollars in blueberries and +4 million dollars in persimmons.
Russia was the main market for products other than hazelnuts exported to Europe. Fruit and vegetable exports from Georgia to Russia in 2021 increased by 86 million dollars compared to 2016. In the light of these data, Georgia made 76% of its vegetable and fruit exports to the Russian market in 2021.
Strong demand from Russia was the main reason for the increase in Georgia's fruit and vegetable exports in 2021 as a result of bad weather conditions in Russia which reduced local supply and pushed prices up.