The share of vehicle exports in total exports reached 38.6% in 2025. Vehicle exports exceeded USD 2.8 billion in terms of the value – USD 440 million higher than Georgia’s total exports in 2012.
Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the already high share of vehicle exports in total exports increased further with growth accelerating from 2023 onward. Nearly USD 2 out of every USD 5 earned from exports came from passenger vehicles in 2025.
Graph 1: Vehicle Exports
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia
Azerbaijan was the main market for vehicle exports before the war with Armenia often – but not always – holding the second place. Beyond growth in value and share, the structure of export partner countries also shifted with Central Asian countries emerging as the main players. The region has become dominant in vehicle exports since 2023. Whilst Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan accounted for 9% of vehicle exports in 2021, their share had risen to 80%.
Kyrgyzstan did not even rank amongst the top ten export partners before the war – in 2024-2025 it took the top spot. One third of total exports was directed to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in both 2024 and 2025. The markets of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan also became active in 2025 with vehicle exports to these countries increasing 6.8-fold, from USD 40 million to USD 270 million.
Graph 2: Vehicle Exports (USD Million)
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia
Passenger vehicles hold the highest spot in exports in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan with their share particularly high in Tajikistan at 90%.
The sharp rise in vehicle exports has been entirely linked to Central Asian countries since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Vehicle exports increased nine-fold in Kazakhstan, 20-fold in Uzbekistan, 23-fold in Tajikistan and 79-fold in Kyrgyzstan in 2025 as compared to 2021.
Graph 3: Vehicle Exports (USD Million)
Source: National Statistics Office of Georgia
The topic of sanctions often come up when discussing vehicle exports. Although a significant share of cars sold in the Central Asian countries may ultimately end up in Russia, Georgia cannot be considered a sanctions-violating state as exports to Russia are banned – not Kyrgyzstan (FactCheck does not claim that vehicles purchased from Georgia necessarily make their way to Russia from Kyrgyzstan or any other Central Asian country). The example is illustrative. Direct exports to Russia have virtually ceased since 2024. Only 17 vehicles worth USD 300,000 were sold directly to Russia over the two years, representing less than 0.01% both in value and quantity.
Georgia sold 111,000 vehicles worth USD 2.8 billion in 2025 whilst importing 234,000 vehicles valued at USD 3.9 billion (total vehicle exports are re-exports). The United States led imports with USD 2.3 billion followed by Germany with USD 661 million and Japan with USD 330 million. China ranked sixth with USD 59 million, surpassing South Korea.
Re-exports have exceeded domestic exports for the past three years accounting for 53.8% in 2025. Domestic exports also grew by 12.5% to USD 3.4 billion but this remains USD 360 million below the record level of 2022. The main reason for this shortfall is copper ores whose exports fell from USD 1 billion in 2022 to USD 92 million in 2025.
