Georgia’s Live Animal Exports: Trends, Challenges, and Strategic Pathways
In recent years, Georgia has gradually emerged as a regional exporter of live animals. While a decade ago this
In recent years, Georgia has gradually emerged as a regional exporter of live animals. While a decade ago this segment was barely visible in agricultural statistics, by 2024 exports of sheep and goats had reached USD 39.9 million, amounting to around 10.5 thousand tons (ITC/Ministry of Finance of Georgia). Although this figure is slightly lower than the 2023 peak, it is still significantly above pre-pandemic levels and clearly demonstrates dynamic growth.
Georgia’s exports are mainly concentrated around two markets. Saudi Arabia is the largest buyer: in 2024, Georgia exported USD 23.8 million worth of live sheep there, accounting for 59.7% of total exports. The average price in Saudi Arabia is high—around USD 4,700 per ton—making this market particularly attractive for Georgia. The second key destination is Azerbaijan, which purchased USD 14.25 million worth of livestock, or 35.7% of total exports, but at a much lower price—around USD 3,000 per ton (ITC). Smaller yet strategically interesting markets include Qatar, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq, which already hold a few percentage points of share and show potential for growth.
Exports of live cattle have also gained momentum. In the first three months of 2025, cattle exports increased by 230% compared to the previous year. Between January and August alone, Georgia earned USD 48.6 million from cattle exports. The main destinations are Iraq and Azerbaijan, indicating that the country is no longer solely a sheep exporter—cattle are starting to occupy a significant share as well.
Global trends add further context to this picture. In the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), imports of live sheep are projected to reach about 9 million head by 2025 (MLA, 2025). This means regional demand remains strong, but competition is intensifying. Azerbaijan is increasingly sourcing cheaper sheep from Kazakhstan and Ukraine, while Turkey and Iran remain traditionally strong players in the region.
For Georgia, the main challenge is compliance with halal certification and veterinary controls. In the GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and others), requirements are strict, and local exporters are often limited by these barriers. Research shows that bringing exports fully in line with these standards is not only necessary but decisive for gaining access to high-value markets. Logistics is another issue: transporting live animals over long distances is costly and requires substantial infrastructure investments.
Between 2020 and 2024, the average annual growth of live animal exports was 20% in value and 15% in volume (ITC). However, by 2023–2024 growth had slowed, with annual value change at -10%, which may indicate temporary market saturation or logistical difficulties.
Georgia faces two main tasks:
- Diversification – to reduce dependence on Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, and to expand exports to other Arab markets, including Jordan and Kuwait.
- Strengthening standards – ensuring strict compliance with halal and international veterinary requirements, which would make Georgian products more competitive against Turkish and Iranian supplies.