Food Imports from Iran to Georgia: Modest in Volume, Structurally Significant in Specific Segments

While Iran is widely recognized as a supplier of construction and metallurgical materials to Georgia, its role in food imports is also taking shape — not through massive volumes, but through notable presence in specific product niches. In 2024, Georgia imported approximately $30 million worth of food and agricultural products from Iran. This accounts for a relatively small share of total imports, yet within certain categories, Iran’s market share is either dominant or structurally important, influencing local availability and pricing.

One of the clearest examples is butter, with Iranian imports reaching $4.9 million, which represents about 13% of Georgia’s total butter imports. Another critical category is milk powder, with imports from Iran totaling $3.3 million, making up over 15% of Georgia’s demand in this segment. Beyond retail use, powdered milk plays a key role in local food manufacturing, which elevates its strategic importance in maintaining uninterrupted production for dairy-based products.

Dates and raisins are two traditionally Iranian products that, while limited in absolute volume, hold substantial market share within their categories. For example, date imports from Iran amounted to $1.2 million, covering more than 85% of the Georgian market for that product. Dried grapes (raisins), worth $1.4 million in imports, are nearly 45% Iranian-sourced. These items see particularly high seasonal demand — often around religious holidays — and Iran holds practical control over their availability during these periods.

Iran is also a major seasonal supplier of fresh fruits, including oranges ($2.3 million), kiwis ($1.2 million), and watermelons ($580,000). In these categories, Iran’s share ranges from 20% to 40%, depending on the season. During off-season months, Iranian fruits often outcompete or outright replace local supply due to earlier harvest cycles and lower prices, shaping short-term market dynamics.

While overall food imports from Iran may appear limited in value, Iran’s significance rises sharply in product-specific terms — especially in concentrated niches and seasonal supply chains. This structural relevance is not always visible in macro-level trade data, but in practice, it defines price floors, access to goods, and even procurement strategies for Georgian businesses. Such dependencies become particularly relevant during regional crises, transport disruptions, or sanction scenarios, where Iranian supply interruptions can trigger local shortages not across the board, but in very specific consumer segments. Data is based on 2024 statistics from the International Trade Centre (ITC).