Georgia imported 1.9 times more fresh beef in the first four months of 2026 than in the same period a year earlier, according to trade statistics for January–April.
Shipments totalled 803 tons with a declared value of $4.471 million. The average import price rose 6.5% to $5.56 per kilogram, reflecting higher unit costs alongside the sharp volume increase.
Where the beef comes from
Belarus and Ukraine accounted for more than 93% of fresh beef imports during the four-month window. The concentration means price and supply shifts in those markets can quickly affect what Georgian wholesalers and retailers pay for chilled cuts.
Georgia relies on imports for a significant share of beef sold in supermarkets, butcher shops and restaurants. Domestic cattle production supplies part of local demand, but import data are closely watched as an indicator of availability and pricing on shop shelves.
What the numbers suggest
The near-doubling of import volume points to stronger demand, restocking, or a combination of both at the start of 2026. Officials and industry groups have not linked the rise to a single policy change in the published trade breakdown.
Higher average prices per kilogram suggest importers faced cost pressure even as volumes climbed. For consumers, the trade figures are one input among transport, storage and retail margins that shape final shelf prices.
The January–April totals cover only the opening third of the year. Full-year import flows will depend on seasonal consumption, exchange rates and continued access to supply from the main partner countries.
