Georgia’s apple exports increased in both volume and value during the 2025/2026 marketing year. From August 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, Georgia exported 23.6 thousand tonnes of apples worth USD 17.4 million. Compared with the same period of the previous year, export volume increased by 30 percent, or 5.5 thousand tonnes, while export value increased by 53 percent, or USD 6 million.
BTU researchers assess that this is a positive signal for Georgia’s apple sector. It shows higher quality, stronger export value and better commercial performance. At the same time, the data reveals a structural risk: exports remain highly concentrated in one market. During the reporting period, 22,197 tonnes of Georgian apples were exported to Russia, while 1,037 tonnes went to Turkey, 170 tonnes to Belarus, 127 tonnes to Armenia and 65 tonnes to other countries.
The average export price was USD 0.74 per kilogram, 17 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year. This means that the increase is not explained by volume alone; the export value of Georgian apples also improved. However, when exports depend heavily on one market, a higher price does not remove the broader risk.
For Georgia, the central question is how to turn the current increase in apple exports into a more sustainable agribusiness opportunity – one based not only on harvest volume, but also on quality, storage, market diversification and branded sales.
Georgia context: a good harvest is no longer enough
Apples are one of the most familiar crops in Georgian agriculture. For farmers, it means orchards, seasonality, harvesting, storage, buyers and price. For consumers, it is an everyday fruit. For the state, it means regional employment, exports and rural income.
But in modern agribusiness, a good harvest is only the beginning. If the product is not uniform in quality, if storage infrastructure is limited, if packaging does not meet different market requirements, and if exports depend almost entirely on one country, growth remains risky.
The current apple export data reflects this reality: the product is selling, the price has improved and volume has increased, but the next stage requires market expansion, quality standardization and better planning.
What the 2025/2026 data shows
During the current marketing year, apple exports increased in three dimensions: volume, value and average price. This matters because in agricultural exports, higher tonnage alone is not always enough. If volume rises but prices fall, the benefit for farmers and exporters may remain limited. In this case, export value grew faster than export volume.
Exports of 23.6 thousand tonnes worth USD 17.4 million indicate a stronger commercial outcome for Georgian apples in the current season. The average export price was USD 0.74 per kilogram. A 17 percent increase compared with the same period of the previous year suggests improved product quality, stronger demand or better export conditions.
According to the sector information used for this analysis, one reason for export growth is improved harvest quality. This is important because competition in the international apple market is not based on quantity alone. Markets demand stable size, color, taste, low damage levels, storage capacity, packaging and predictable supply.
The main market and the main risk
During the reporting period, the main destination for exported Georgian apples was Russia, with 22,197 tonnes. If total exports are taken as 23.6 thousand tonnes, Russia’s share is approximately 94 percent.
This is a double signal for Georgia. On the one hand, Russia is currently a market that absorbs Georgian apples in large volumes. This creates short-term income for farmers, exporters and regional economies.
On the other hand, this level of concentration increases risk. If regulation, demand, logistics, prices, political conditions or sanitary requirements change in one market, the Georgian apple sector can quickly come under pressure. Export dependence on one market is always more fragile than diversified sales across several destinations.
BTU researchers assess that the increase in apple exports should be considered a success, but its sustainability depends on how quickly the sector can diversify its markets.
Why harvest quality is not enough
Improved harvest quality is necessary, but it is not enough for export expansion. Apple competitiveness depends on several factors.
The first is storage. The apple season is limited, but the selling period can be extended if modern storage, temperature control and quality-preservation technologies are available.
The second is sorting and packaging. Different markets have different requirements. One buyer may require a specific size, another may demand specific packaging, and a third might look for longer delivery windows and stable batches.
The third is certification. If Georgian apples are to enter more demanding markets, farmers and exporters need standards, traceability, plant-protection compliance and quality documentation.
The fourth is marketing. Apples can remain an ordinary raw product, but they can also become part of a regional brand – especially if a specific region becomes associated with quality, taste or responsible production.
Georgia in a few data points
During the current marketing year, Georgia exported 23.6 thousand tonnes of apples.
The export value reached USD 17.4 million.
Export volume increased by 30 percent compared with the same period of the previous year.
Export value increased by 53 percent.
The average export price was USD 0.74 per kilogram.
The average price was 17 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year.
Russia received 22,197 tonnes, or approximately 94 percent of total volume.
These figures show both current growth and high market concentration.
What this means for farmers
For farmers, the main conclusion is that apple farming is moving toward a quality and planning stage. Harvest volume alone will no longer be enough. Farmers need to know which varieties are in demand, which sizes sell better, how the product should be stored, how losses can be reduced and how sales should be planned before the season.
Farmers also need to know their cost of production. If they only follow market prices, they may not understand how profitable their production really is. Orchard care, harvesting, storage, transport, packaging, labor and losses together create the real cost.
Cooperation is also important. A small farmer may not have enough volume to enter a new market independently. But several farmers with shared quality, storage, sorting and sales can create stronger commercial results.
What this means for exporters
For exporters, the main task is market diversification. If Georgian apples are sold almost entirely to one market, exporters remain dependent on that market’s demand and rules.
Finding new markets is not only a sales issue. It requires preparing the product for specific market requirements: quality, packaging, size, documentation, logistics and stable supply.
Exporters need to work not only with farmers, but also with storage facilities, packers, logistics companies and certification systems. Apple exports are no longer only buying and selling; they are value-chain management.
What this means for the state
For the state, rising apple exports are a positive indicator, but policy should not focus only on recording current volumes. The main task should be increasing sector resilience.
This requires several directions:
support for modern storage and cold chain;
development of sorting and packaging infrastructure;
farmer education in quality and traceability;
support for export-market diversification;
regional branding;
better data systems so farmers know what is produced, what is sold, where prices are and what markets demand.
It is especially important that success in one market does not hide long-term risk. Current growth should be used to prepare for broader markets.
What this means for Georgian agribusiness
The growth of apple exports shows that value in Georgian agribusiness can increase when products are prepared better for the market. The business opportunity is not only in orchards.
Opportunities exist in:
modern storage;
sorting and packaging;
cold logistics;
quality control;
export consulting;
digital platforms for farmers;
apple processing – juice, dried apples, puree, vinegar, confectionery ingredients;
branded Georgian fruit;
stable supply for HoReCa and retail chains.
If the sector remains focused only on selling fresh raw product quickly, prices will depend on seasonality and one main market. If storage, processing, branding and market choice are added, apples can become a more resilient agribusiness product.
What Georgia should do
The first step is quality standardization. Export growth should be based not on one good season, but on repeatable quality.
The second step is market expansion. Russia is the main market today, but sector security requires exploring Turkey, the Middle East, Central Asia, niche EU channels and other regional destinations.
The third step is strengthening storage and cold chain. The longer the product maintains quality, the more options farmers and exporters have.
The fourth step is farmer cooperation. Small orchards become more competitive when they cooperate around quality, batch size, packaging and sales.
The fifth step is data-based planning. The sector needs digital information on harvests, prices, storage, export destinations and market demand.
BTUAI assessment
BTUAI assesses the growth of apple exports as a positive signal for Georgia’s agricultural sector, but the data should not be read only as a success story. It shows both opportunity and risk.
The main opportunity is that Georgian apples are reaching the market with better quality, a higher average export price and larger volume. This means that, with the right work by farmers, exporters and the state, apples can become a stronger export product.
The main risk is market concentration. When approximately 94 percent of exports go to one country, the sector is exposed to external change. This structure may be profitable in the short term, but it requires diversification in the long term.
For Georgia, the right task is to turn apple export growth into systematic development: better orchards, better storage, better packaging, better traceability, more markets and a stronger agribusiness value chain. Only then can the current growth become not a one-season result, but a foundation for long-term competitiveness.
Key findings
- Georgia’s apple exports increased in both volume and value during the 2025/2026 marketing year.
- From August 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, Georgia exported 23.6 thousand tonnes of apples worth USD 17.4 million.
- Compared with the same period of the previous year, volume increased by 30 percent and value by 53 percent.
- The average export price was USD 0.74 per kilogram, 17 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year.
- The main export market was Russia, with 22,197 tonnes.
- Russia’s share in total volume was approximately 94 percent, indicating high market concentration.
- Quality improvement is positive, but sustainable growth requires market diversification.
- The development of the apple sector depends on storage, sorting, packaging, traceability, cooperation and market data.
Data and evidence base
Main data:
From August 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, Georgia exported 23.6 thousand tonnes of apples.
Export value was USD 17.4 million.
Compared with the same period of the previous year, volume increased by 30 percent, or 5.5 thousand tonnes.
Value increased by 53 percent, or USD 6 million.
The average export price was USD 0.74 per kilogram.
The average price was 17 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year.
Main export destinations:
Russia – 22,197 tonnes;
Turkey – 1,037 tonnes;
Belarus – 170 tonnes;
Armenia – 127 tonnes;
Other countries – 65 tonnes.
Calculation note:
If total exports are taken as 23.6 thousand tonnes, Russia’s market share is approximately 94 percent. This indicates high export-market concentration.
Additional data Georgia should collect:
apple production by region;
variety structure;
storage capacity;
cold-chain availability;
share of export-grade apples in total production;
seasonal market prices;
farm-level cost of production;
processing volumes;
requirements of new export markets.
Methodology
This report was prepared as part of BTUAI Research. The analysis is based on demographic, regional, economic and behavioral data, as well as general trends observed in publicly available sources. The materials are processed using analytical methods applied by BTU researchers, with the support of BTUAI.
The purpose of the research is not to provide personal assessments, but to identify broader trends and practical directions for business, education and society.
Limitations
This material is analytical and educational in nature. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Before making a specific decision, consultation with a relevant specialist is recommended.
The analysis is based on export data published for the period from August 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026. The data reflects a specific marketing period and does not represent final full-calendar-year results. Additional data on production, storage, varieties, quality and cost structure is needed to assess market concentration and sector resilience more fully.
Sources
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia – apple export data, 2025/2026 marketing year.
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia – interim apple export data, January 2026.
BTUAI Research Team – analytical processing.
FAQ
Why is the growth in apple exports important?
Because growth is visible not only in volume, but also in value and average export price. This indicates a stronger commercial result.
What is the main risk?
The main risk is market concentration. Approximately 94 percent of exports go to one country, making the sector vulnerable to external changes.
What does an average price of USD 0.74 mean?
It means that the average export value of one kilogram of exported apples was USD 0.74. This is 17 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year.
Why is market diversification necessary?
It reduces dependence on one buyer market. Multiple markets increase stability and reduce the risk of price, regulatory or logistical shocks.
What should farmers do?
Farmers should improve quality, understand their cost of production, plan storage, cooperate with other producers and know market requirements before the season begins.
What should the state do?
The state should support storage, cold chain, quality standards, traceability, farmer education and the search for new export markets.
Keywords
apple exports Georgia; Georgian apples; agribusiness Georgia; fruit exports Georgia; agricultural exports Georgia; market diversification; cold chain; Georgian agriculture; apple market; export strategy; BTUAI; Business and Technology University.
Citation format
BTUAI Research Team. “Georgia’s Apple Exports Are Growing: Why Market Diversification Now Matters.” Business and Technology University, BTUAI.ge, 2026.
Authorship and BTUAI standard footer
Prepared by the academic team of Business and Technology University and the BTUAI Research Team.
Tbilisi, Georgia
BTUAI is an analytical platform of Business and Technology University that studies the impact of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation, startup ecosystems, data analytics and emerging technologies on business, the economy, education and society. BTUAI materials are designed to explain complex technological and economic changes in a clear, reliable and Georgia-focused way.