Georgia increases mineral water exports almost 29% to 221 mln liters in 2019, Russia accounts for 43.2%
TBILISI. Jan 22 (Interfax) - Georgia exported 221.2 million liters of mineral water in 2019, 28.6% more than in 2018, the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) told Interfax.
Mineral water exports in Q4 2019 rose 28.1% year-on-year to 62 million liters.
Revenue from exports was up 21.2% to $133.6 million, accounting for 3.5% of Georgia's total exports versus 3.3% in 2018.
Georgia exports mineral water to over 30 countries, including Russia and other CIS countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, China and Japan. Deliveries to Russia grew 29.8% to 95.6 million liters in 2019, 43.2% of total mineral water exports. Exports to Russia rose 20.7% in value to $60.6 million.
Georgia exported 172 million liters of mineral water in 2018, 16.8% more than in 2017. Deliveries to Russia grew 9.2% to 73.6 million liters, 42.8% of total mineral water exports.
Russia imposed a ban on mineral water supplies from Georgia in 2006 because of quality concerns. The market was reopened in June 2013. Borjomi mineral water was the first to return to Russia, followed by Sairme, Sairme Springs and Nabeghlavi.